Self-Grading Tests

The concept of self-grading tests is interesting to me. Going through school, the vast majority of the tests I took were with pencil and paper, so I don't have much experience with them as a student. However, as a future teacher, I feel it is important to consider when it is appropriate to use them. I believe that teachers shouldn't use these until students are in at least third grade. Students in grade levels below that aren't developed as test takers quite yet, and in my opinion they don't have the experience with technology yet either. Not only do I think they need to be grade-level appropriate, but teachers must choose carefully about what subjects they choose to use them in. I feel that tests in math and science should be kept strictly on paper, where students can work out the problems. Social Studies and English are the two subjects that I feel could really be an effective use of self-grading tests. Students could benefit from the instant feedback, whether it be about a book they are reading or specific period in history they are studying.

As a future teacher, I feel I can utilize self-grading tests in my classroom. My goal is to use them to assess students, but not necessarily use as a grading tool. For instance, if there is a unit where students will work in groups, I could use a self-grading quiz or test to help make the groups. Looking at the test results, I could make sure there was a good balance of high-scoring students in the same group with low-scoring students, in order to make it a good learning experience for all students. As mentioned above, I feel these tests would be most beneficial for students in English and Social Studies. A way I could assess if students are reading, I could create a quick, five question quiz to test their comprehension skills. Students could use the instant feedback as a measuring stick of whether they are understanding classroom readings, whether it be a novel or simply the textbook.

Chapters 1+2 Reflection

Chapters 1 and 2 of "Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology" pose several great points and questions. I feel the first question I can ask myself after reading is, 'Is Education effected in a positive or negative way by technology?' While there is evidence for both sides of the argument, I feel there really is no clear cut answer. However, I do have a strong opinion for the positive things it can do for education. First, it can help develop communication and collaboration skills for students, through activites like a classroom blog. Also, it can help teachers form unity within the classroom, keeping students, parents, and administrators all on the same page together. Although technology puts a positive effect on these aspects of teaching, I feel that there is one thing that should be made clear about technology in education: It assists in teaching, but does not replace it. Technology should be used as a tool to help students learn, but not be the only source of student learning.

I believe there are various positive effects of technology in education, but there are consequences as well. For instance, advanced technology will tempt both students and teachers to mulitask, and their focus will be hindered as a result. This is especially an issue at the high school and college level of schooling. Also, as mentioned above, teachers may rely too heavily on technology, and use it as a 'replacement' to teaching and learning. Through all the pros and cons of technology, it may take a few decades for our society to come to a consensus of whether technology is a good or bad influence on education. There are plenty of advocates and skeptics, so it will be very interesting to see how technology's influence plays out in the coming years.

Credible Sources

1) Save the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus: I did not feel that this was a credible source of information. There is no way of telling that the information is accurate and reliable. They do provide several great links and suggested books to read about tree octopuses, but they don't validate anything that is on their own page. Although they have photographs and videos of their sightings, there is no way for a viewer with no prior knowledge to validate whether what they spotted was legitimate or not.

2) Martin Luther King, Jr: I believe that this site is reliable. Although it discusses some controversial "truths" about Martin Luther King Jr, each page is backed up with sources. If viewers wish to check the validity of these sources, the links are provided on each page. This site also gives viewers links for further reading about MLK and the Civil Rights Movement itself. Photographs from the day that MLK was shot are also included in this site, giving proper credit, such as to the Associated Press.

3) All About Explorers: I question the credibility of this website. It claims to provide everything about every explorer who ever lived. However, it only lists fourteen different explorers. If a teacher had a class of twenty students, and wanted each student to study a different explorer, they could not accomplish this through this website. Furthermore, on the pages about these explorers, the information is not validated, and teachers and students have no way of evaluating the accuracy of the information presented. It does do a thorough job of giving links to other sites about the explorers, however, I feel the focus needs to be narrowed to this particular site first.

4) Dihydrogen Monoxide Research Division: This is definitely not a credible source. It's not a true source, as it is designed to be humorous. However, it may be deceiving to the viewer as it appears to be a legitimate research facility. As you dive into the depth of the site, the links are not accurate and could not be used for a project.

PSA Reflection

I felt completing the Public Service Announcement was beneficial for me in several ways. It helped me look at our selected topic from the perspective of a student, teacher, and most importantly as a person. It also helped me realize that our topic, "Texting while Driving", is a serious issue in our society and is not improving. Regarding this particular issue, college aged students are the ones that are most responsible, and participating in this activity could possibly help them think about the consequences of texting while driving and persuade them to focus their attention solely to driving.

As teachers, I feel it is just as important to help our students grow as people, as it is to grow as students. This type of project allows students to use what they've learned in the classroom to learn about a topic that effects their personal lives. By using technology and working with their classmates, students are the given the opportunity to learn about a topic that is relevant to their lives, while having fun at the same time. I feel the concept "students learn from students" applies to this project, as students can learn from doing this project and viewing the projects of their classmates.

Chapter 10/Epilogue Reflection

I definitely agree with the basic premise of this reading, in that it states that technology has transformed education. I feel it has effected both teaching and learning in a positive way. For instance, teaching has become more of "communicating" rather than "lecturing." I also agree with the statement that almost every technological tool is collaborative. I feel this is especially important, because it gives the sense that a classroom is a team or family, and they are working together to help everyone achieve more. Technology has definitely impacted teaching and learning in a positive way, but that doesn't mean teachers should feel the need to replace "old-school" strategies entirely. The advancement of technology should lend a helping hand to teaching, not replace it.

As a future teacher, I feel it is important to incorporate uses of technology to help my students learn. I also want to use it to help them collaborate with their classmates, when appropriate. I like the fact that technology can help students develop some very important skills. For example, using a classroom wiki can help students give and receive constructive criticism. It also can help them gain new ideas and perspectives from their classmates. As a teacher, I also want to use technology as a way to keep the classroom organized, such as keeping parents informed of what activities we are working on, etc. There definitely is a plethora of ways to use technology to empower student learning, teachers just need to choose them carefully and thoughtfully.

A Digital Nation

Viewing this video definitely made me realize that the influence of technology on students is not always a positive one. I feel that our society is encouraging students to multitask, instead of focusing on the task at hand. This is especially significant for young students, as their brains are not fully developed yet. By seeing older students, and people on movies and television, our young students think that multitasking is now the norm, and that it makes them better students. In reality, students' performance suffers when participating in two or more activities. I felt that the experiment they did with college students, in which they proved that multitasking slowed their reaction times, was very effective. I also believe that the issue of multitasking through use of technology is a global issue, and not just for our schools. The fact that it is safer to drive while under the influence of alchohol than it is to drive while texting was a real eye opener for me.

As a future teacher, I want to make a conscious effort to use technology responsibly in my classroom. In other words, I look to only use technology when it is necessary, and not just for the sake of using it. As shown on the video and from experience as a student, I feel teachers tend to give students time on computers that is excessive, and promotes recreational use rather than class work. Especially at the high school level, I felt sometimes we were given too much time in a computer lab, and that meant students were playing games instead of learning. I also want to make sure the use of technology in my classroom is appropriate. If I am teaching a 2nd grade class, I don't feel that using a social network in the classroom would be appropriate. I want to teach my students the skill sets that are associated with these networks, such as communication, collaboration and familiarity with the technology, but do not that type of technology necessary for students at that grade level. Finally, I want to inspire my students to become independent thinkers. It's true that technology can help students learn, but I don't want them to use it as a crutch. I think we all fall into the trap sometimes, of relying on the advanced technology to help us through our problems. Students still need to develop their minds, and as I teacher I take great responsibility in that.

Reflection on Interactive Whiteboard Lesson

I felt I made a special effort to design this lesson. I wanted to make a lesson that would benefit student learning, but also allow to have fun with it. Math tends to be a difficult subject for some students, especially at the lower elementary levels. As an elementary education major, I sought to design a lesson that was stimulating, enjoyable, and referred to the common core standards. The topic I chose, Telling and Writing Time, tends to be a difficult skill for 1st and 2nd grade students. I remember this being difficult for myself as a young student. It was important to me to design a lesson that appeals to wide ranges of ability level, and that will help students become more confident when it comes to telling time and writing time.

Creating this lesson will really benefit my future teaching. What I enjoyed most was that it required me to already start thinking like a teacher. In completing this, I wanted to develop a lesson that would truly help students learn while taking advantage of the smartboard's capabilities. This day in age, with technology continuing to become more prevalent, teachers need to consider how they can use it for their students' benefit. I plan on using the smartboard as a teaching tool in the future. This assignment also helped me realize that when designing lesson plans, it is necessary to consider what role the smartboard can play in the lesson. I look forward to using smartboards as a tool to help my students become better learners. Finally, I feel that smartboards emphasize the importance of differentiated instruction. In this particular lesson, there is different grade levels and ability levels to consider. Not only can telling time be difficult to get used to for young students, but using the smartboard in general can be as well. Being a teacher at the elementary level, I find it especially important to have patience with students as they get used to the classroom technology.

Chapters 7 and 9 Reflection

Reading these two chapters furthered my understanding of how technology in the classroom can help improve student skills. For instance, organizing classroom photos on Flickr can enhance student creativity. As mentioned in the chapter, students can make magazine covers, collages and much more through photo programs such as Flickr. Not only can using Flickr to organize photos help with class projects, but can help students create positive memories of their classroom experience that they can remember forever.

Chapter 9 discussed the pros and cons of social media in the classroom. The use of Facebook in the classroom is a hotly debated topic, and the consensus seems to be that the negatives outweigh the positives. There are definitely advantages, such as creating classroom groups that allow a teacher to keep all students on the same page. Also, it gives students who may be shy or uncomfortable speaking out in class the chance to give their input. However, the down side is that Facebook creates a social and personal environment, and teachers must think very carefully before implementing it.

As a future teacher, I look to incorporate the positive learning outcomes that these two chapters discuss. First of all, I feel I can create positive continuity in my classroom by using photo sharing. One way I could do this is by making an album of a class field trip, and then ask the students to provide comments such as their favorite part of the trip and what they learned. Another goal of mine is to use the photo sharing technology in multiple subject areas. Many feel that it works solely for classes like social studies and science, but I feel it can be used in subjects like mathematics as well. For example, each student could search for or take photos of ways that math is used in their daily lives.  By participating in an activity like this and viewing their classmates' projects, students can gain a perspective of how math is used in the world around them. Regarding the Chapter 9 learning outcomes, I look forward to using the positive aspects of social media in the classroom. I agreed with the fact that creating "groups" can keep everyone informed and create continuity. I also like how it allows students to communicate in a non-verbal manner, allowing them to express their opinions better. However, I feel these goals can be accomplished in a format other than Facebook, such as in a classroom blog or wiki. It is important to me that students are informed and feel comfortable communicating with each other, but I think there's better classroom alternatives to Facebook.

Digital Autobiography Reflection

1)      I feel that I gave a solid effort while completing this project. I wanted to ensure that the individuals that view my project were given a sufficient representation of who I am. The images that I chose to include are ones that are important to me, and shape who I am today and the person I will become.

2)      I feel this course task is very valuable, as past life experiences play a big role in the decisions that people make. For instance, the activities, clubs, sports, etc. that a student was involved in may have had a significant impact on the major/field of study that the student has currently. This project is also valuable as it allows students to reflect on their life so far, and what important components to include in the project.

3)      This project benefits future teachers for a number of different reasons. First of all, technology continues to become a bigger and bigger part of education. Becoming familiar with sites such as Vuvox and Voicethread will help future teachers because they can potentially incorporate these sites into their classrooms. Also, students can think about using a project similar to this with their future students, inspiring them to reflect on who they are as a person and future educator. Furthermore, future teachers can also use this assignment to develop new ideas for technology projects to do with their students.