Entry 6

I learned that the SMART Board can be used for a variety of subjects including health, English, math, science and geography. It is a great way to get students to feel more comfortable in front of the classroom because they can be up there but be focused on doing a task and not necessarily on having to present in front of the class. I learned that sometimes it can be hard to use the Smart board with groups of students because only one pen can be used on the board and a time. For this reason it is smart to have the Smart board use done on a rotation system or else the students not getting to participate might bet bored. I also learned that I need to have a backup plan in case my presentation randomly decides to close!
I know there is still so much for me to learn about using the Smart board. I would like to learn how to upload videos onto SMART board presentations.

Reflection #6

I have been learning so much about technology through this class and how it can be used in such a beneficial way to save time and help students learn. I know I still have a lot to learn and defiantly need to get more comfortable in using technology and incorporating it into my every day life as well as into my classroom. However, I still think it is important for teachers to not rely too much on technology to teach a class. Technology can defiantly enhance learning, but the teacher still needs to teach and not just rely on the technology to do the presentation for the students. I think a class would get pretty boring for students if the teacher only ever uses the smart board and video clips to teach a class. Teachers should be able to keep their students engaged and on task without only using technology. It is also important to have a backup plan just incase the technology use are using starts to not work properly or the electricity goes out.
I am not sure if I will be working in a school in the U.S. with a lot of technology provided, or if I will be working in a third world country where I will not have those options. Because of this, in all my education classes I try and think of how I would be able to use technology or maybe only teach with a chalk board but still make it fun and interesting to my students.
Technology is wonderful and I appreciate it so much. But I know I must not learn to rely too much on it for my teaching.

Reflection #5

Last week in class we started to learn a little about creating a teacher website. Creating a teacher website lets your students and their parents get to know you before arriving at school. I know that even as a college student I still wonder before I start a class what my teacher is going to be like. I was homeschooled for all of elementary school and most of middle school and can still remember being so nervous the first time I was going to school and only knowing the name of my teacher. I think it would have helped me a lot to have had some sort of picture or note about my teacher before I got to school. I think for younger children, even just knowing what their face looks like will help put a child at ease on the first day of school. A brief note about the teacher is even better because then the student can already be preparing themselves for what their teacher will be like, what they like to do, and what they will be doing in class. I am very excited to start making my teacher page. I want my teacher website to be friendly, welcoming and informative. I hope that it represents me well to my students and their parents.

Reflection #4

In learning about incorporating VAK's into a lesson plan, I have noticed that finding video clips on YouTube can be very helpful. For an auditory learner, you can find music or poems that go along with the lesson plan. For a visual learner, video clips used as anticipatory sets are great! Children love to watch things and this is an easy and fast way to get their minds on the subject you are about to teach. It is also great because it does not require any set up or clean up, just a little bit of searching and you are ready to go. It is great for teacher to be able to use simple online resources to help children learn. I think it would be great for younger grades to be shown video clips of animals rather than just read stories or look at pictures. It is not the same as going to the zoo, but pretty close! I hope that in my future class and lesson plans, I will be able to find fun clips that will incorporate into my lessons and help engage my students with the content.

Reflection #3

I have noticed in some classrooms that if a teacher is not very rehearsed in using the technology in their classroom sometimes trying to figure out how to get the technology started takes up as much or more time than the use of technology saves. It can also throw a teacher off if the technology malfunctions or freezes and can make it difficult to get back on track and not lose the attention of your students. To help with this problem, I think it would be good for teachers to do a quick run-through before class to make sure all of the technology, power points, smart board activities and video clips are up and ready to go before the class arrives. I know I have given presentations that stopped working before and it is super uncomfortable to have to deal with. Teachers should also come with a backup plan just in case something stops working.

Reflection #2

In a math class I am taking right now, I have found it very helpful to put my notes on a power point before giving my weekly presentation. I think it is helpful for other students because they can see the notes rather than just try and write down what I am saying. It also helps me because I don’t have to look down at my notes. I can point to where I am at in my power point and still be looking up and at the class. It is also helpful because the notes on the power point are bigger and easier to read. It is also helpful to type out equations and do pie charts on the power point before hand, rather than have to turn around and write it on the white board where it will take up time and not be as legible. Using technology in class saves a lot of time and keeps the class running smoothly.

Reflection #1

In the geography class I am currently taking, other than the use of an overhead, technology is not used very much. I think the class would benefit a lot from the use of technology and online resources. I think this would help with the concepts we are learning to have interaction with the map and not just stare at an overhead. I have would several interesting map games on line that have helped me study maps better because they are interactive and game like.
I have learned through being in the geography class that if a teacher is able to use technology to make a class more fun and interesting, Then they should do it! Students could also use technology to give presentations on countries rather than point to a map. It would also be interesting to show video clips and pictures from the different regions to create a better picture in our minds of the areas we are learning about.