post #10

1.) I found it interesting at the difficulty of some of the skills covered in the course. I like to think of myself as a fairly computer oriented person, yet I also feel that there were some confusing technologies covered in the course and in reading other students blogs I feel like they feel the same way. This has showed me that I still have a lot to learn as far as technology goes and how it can be utilized in the classroom.
2.) The technology skill I would most like to learn next would be the use of HTML code and how to run a website. I have always wanted to run my own small website and the use of the HTML code and other website tools would be invaluable and very helpful. I think I could also incorporate the website into my teaching, posting assignments or notes on it. An old professor of mine did that and it was extremely helpful.
3.) Hopefully in the future I can eventually learn the HTML code and one day operate a small site. I might take future online classes teaching the necessary software, or perhaps even more class at FSU. Whether or not it is in the near future or the distant I will definitely eventually learn the HTML and computer language.

post #9

1.) http://www.sliderocket.com/

I would use the SlideRocket application in my classroom to help the students in many ways. SlideRocket is a great presentation software that can be used easily by children. It comes with a very easy to learn interface as well as a step by step video walk through of the software which explains everything. This could be an extremely valuable tool for the children to use as opposed to PowerPoint and it could also help enhance their overall technological knowledge.

Not only can SlideRocket be used as an alternative to PowerPoint, but it can also serve to introduce the children to Web 2.0 software. It will help to introduce the students to the technology and the earlier they can become comfortable with it then the better off they are for the rest of their educational careers. I believe that the SlideRocket software could be used from elementary all the way up to high school and it could be very effective at all grade levels.

2.) I believe that Excell will prove extremely valuable to me as a teacher. I will use Excel as my main grade book and its calculating abilities will help determine the grades of my students. It's a good thing I know how to do it right! I might also even try to teach it to the kids as it could be very helpful to them as well.

post #8

1.)   I believe that my PowerPoint 2 presentation was very informative and would have been very helpful for a young student. My presentation used math concepts to steer kids through an exciting adventure. Each slide asked a problem and only selecting the right answer would lead you to the next slide. This helps to reinforce the material to the children while still remaining fun and entertaining.

2.)   I would use many different types of technologies inside my classroom outside of just the computer. I would use many different videos and visual learning tools to help give the kids real life examples about the things they are studying. I would also use technology that is able to add onto what a computer can already do, for instance an electronic microscope that projects the image much larger on a screen for the whole class to see.

3.)   I believe that learning how to utilize PowerPoint so that I can use it as a teaching tool was very important. In my classroom I believe that I will use it just as much as any other teaching tool and to be able to use it flawlessly and teach it to the kids I think would be a great asset. 

post #7

1.)   I believe that presentation software such as Microsoft Powerpoint, would be very helpful in my classroom. That would enable the teacher to present information both audibly and visibly to children. This would increase the chances of the children being able to retain the information because not all children learn the same way so giving them something visual to relate to what their hearing would help very greatly. Also it helps the teacher, helping them to plan out their lessons and how to present the information to the class.

2.)   I would use PowerPoint a lot in my classroom to present information to the children. There would be a lot of instances in a history class where the PowerPoint format would help a lot in categorically breaking down information so that the children can process and better understand it. Using PowerPoint could help show dates, names, and events in an easy to understand manner.

3.)   I think that one of the major problems having to do with technology in the classroom is the lack thereof. All throughout Florida especially there is a lack of technology available in the classroom and I think that in order for us to continue to improve our education system we need to bring technology more into the classroom to help enhance the learning process.

post #6

1.)   I think that the Web 2.0 technology could be a very useful asset to the K-12 system. These are the technologies of the future and enabling the children to become comfortable with Web 2.0 from an early age would definitely encourage them to use it more in the future. I believe that I would definitely use this technology in my classroom. Most likely I would give my students topics and make them make a wiki explaining that topic as a project. This would enable the students to practice their Web 2.0 skills as well as their research and web skills.

2.)   I feel that Wikipedia is an extremely valuable resource as it contains a multitude of information on almost any topic you could think of. I have used Wikipedia as a source on many assignments as a reference tool and it has been very informative. There are many who feel that it is not a reliable resource because any user can edit it, but it has been my experience that the moderators on the site are extremely quick at correcting any mistakes that occur in the text. I feel that Wikipedia is an important tool for students and should be utilized in the classroom.

3.)   I think becoming comfortable with the Web 2.0 software was very important for me. Web 2.0 is being used increasingly more and more and I need to know how to use this technology in order to do what I would like to do in my classroom I plan on utilizing a lot of technology in my classroom and Web 2.0 will be a big part of that. 

post #5

1.)   I think in a classroom the Internet can be a very important tool for learning. It can be very useful when teaching students how to use computers. Also, when using foreign sources of information the Internet is a great tool for accessing them. The more familiar that the students can become with using the Internet as a tool, then the more capable they are of using it as a reference tool.

2.)   In my classroom I would use the Internet in many different ways. You could create a web hunt that would help the familiarize the students with the Internet. It would also help to use assignments that involve online sources such as Wikipedia, Encarta, etc. Eventually the goal would be to teach the students enough so that they would be using the Internet as reference tool on every assignment.

3.)   I am worried about becoming a teacher specializing in technology environments because the job opportunities are diminishing. While the need for technology is increasing, it is becoming more and more incorporated by the regular homeroom teacher. Thus the opportunities for teacher specializing in only that field are diminishing, especially at the elementary school level, which is where I am hoping to get a job.

post #4

1.)   In chapter 7, I learned how to incorporate more technology into what would be my lesson plan in my classroom. In order to achieve this I would use the Inspiration software, which is very helpful when learning to organize thoughts and ideas. The Inspiration software is great for kids learning to develop their skills for writing and brainstorming. Incorporating computers and those type of electronic teaching devices that enforce repetition would greatly increase the chances of the students in my class being able to pick up and grasp the material.

2.)   I would strongly encourage my students to develop outline skills. Being able to neatly organize your ideas will greatly encourage the students chances of success when writing longer papers and essays. The further and further on in their academic careers that they get, my students need to be able to formulate their ideas into a clear and concise paper. Being able to map out your thoughts is a skill that can also be very beneficial outside just the realm of literature.

3.)   Being able to gain a greater grasp on the technology and programs used in the classroom before I get there is a great advantage to me. Learning the Inspiration software is a great tool that I can learn and use in my classroom. More and more technology is being integrated into the classroom and computer programs are replacing textbooks. The more knowledge I can gain now the better position I will be in when I have my own class in the future.