Last Day of Class

I learned quite a few things from watching other students presentations. I saw some great ideas, using tape recorders to record students reading so they can hear themselves. I learned about how to use smart board, and many different resources I can use in my future classroom. I was given some great ideas from my classmates, and enjoyed seeing how others used technology in their practicum experience.

Practicum Powerpoint

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Classroom Inventory

I have seen the benfits of using technology in the classroom, but I also feel that overplanning the use of technology can hinder the learning experience. I have seen the struggle with trying to find that balance. In my classroom, the teacher is the only one with an in class computer, but uses her technology accessibility to an advantage. I have also seen that the time spent in computer and keyboarding not used wisely. The children get experience using technology, but I feel that they need to learn it in context.
I hope that when I get into my own classroom I can find that balance, the balance between meaningful lessons with technology, and educational lessons without. I think that it is beneficial in the classroom, but its not somthing that easily lends itself to every lesson. I want to find the best, most practical ways to use technology in my classroom.

Google Earth Tour

Join me on a tour of CNN's 7 Natural Wonders of the World, and experience the geographical diversity of the world we live in! My original plan for a Civil War Tour was less successful because of the changes since the 1800's. My second idea, attributed to CNN, is a great way to teach landforms, different ecological systems, plant and animal life etc. The link straight to my filing cabinet is in my links list, or the address is below.

http://sites.google.com/site/makeitlastforeverinc/my-files

Tech Savvy Teacher

Students in American schools are most likely familiar with the Fahrenheit system, but the science community uses the metric system to measure. Therefore, it is important for students to learn about different temperature scales, and devices used to measure. We would discuss different ways the students are familiar with taking temperatures, and what they measure; pool thermometers, oven thermometers, and other measuring devices. After students have identified what they're familiar with, make comparisons to the metric system (Celsius).
For example, have different temperatures in Celsius and Fahrenheit and ask the students to make predictions about what type of weather they would see. If it was 32 C (which is 89.6 F) outside, would the students be dressed in winter clothes, or would they be at the beach? Discuss the difference in measurement scales, ie., water boils at 100 C, and your body temperature is approximately 98.6 F, but your body is not about to boil.

As a class we collected samples of objects we believed would represent a range of temperatures. We collected snow, water from the drinking fountain, and warm water from the bathroom faucet.


We then used the temperature probes to collect temperatures digitally. We had two probes, one measuring in Fahrenheit, and the other measuring in Celsius. We put both probes in the same cup and measured the temperature of its contents. We used a program named Logger Pro to create graphs of the temperatures collected, in both Celsius and Fahrenheit. This would help to clarify Celsius and Fahrenheit measure temperatures the same using two different systems. For example, the freezing point of water in Celsius is 0 C and the freezing point of water in Fahrenheit is 32 F. Though these numbers appear to be different, they are equivalent measurements.





Using the temperature probes to gather measurements firsthand enhanced our lesson. Students were able to measure one object using two measurement systems simultaneously. They were able to track the results using Logger Pro, and create visual graphs representative of their data. Students are more likely to retain their knowledge because of their hands-on involvement, rather than just listening to a lecture.

TPACK, Science and Math

What I gathered from the tutorials and information on TPACK is the importance of using all 3 knowledge areas to supplement the classroom.  It is not simply using a projector to show pictures to the entire classroom, but to use different technologies to enhance the learning experience.  There are benefits to having a lesson that uses all the knowledge areas.  We've all had professors who are so smart their lectures make no sense whatsoever, or professors who use powerpoint to the extreme, every slide packed with text.  We have to be sure that the content and technology we use enhances our pedagogical moments.  I also spent some time today exploring Google earth.  I looked up the different places I have lived and the different places I traveled. It is a great resource because it allows us to see things and explore areas we most likely will never be able to visit, or see.  It would be a great tool in learning about different landforms, and the diversity of terrain.

RSS and Web 2.0

RSS and Web 2.0 are great resources to keep connected with your students.  I think that some of the resources we have discussed will be more beneficial to upper grades.  I really liked the Goodreads resource and will probably be using it as a personal tool as well as supplementing my classroom.  I think it will help parents to find books that their children should be reading, based on their grade level. I don't anticipate using Del.icio.us, only because I don't like the layout of the website.  I may use it to store videos and other resources.  

Technology Experience

I have experience with technology. I have TA'd for tech courses in school and helped my mother, a computer illiterate woman to use a computer.