getting started

I went to "Web 2.0 Tools to Amplify Elementary Students’ Creativity and Initiative” and watched the video. The video presented and described many projects that students could use in the classroom. The key is to get students involved. We want students to be creative and interactive and think more involved and do higher level thinking. We need to come up with new ways to do it and this video goves good ideas. Students use technology and drive their own learning through educational networking. Student get to pick their topiccs that they want to learn more about so they are interested. Webquests were one way to use technology with students that was mentioned and it is a way for students to have a choose between certain websites, but still using websites that the teacher has approved and gioven as an option. Students were able to create a character on the computer and then record their voice to match the character on the screen. it was really neat. It is a way that students can present what they have learned and be asssessed. Education needs to shift from instructional to dicovery and exploration. Children learn best that way. There still should be some instructional, but there should be more discovery learning taking place escpecially for young learners.

Using blogs for professional development

Blogs can be very useful for teachers. Teachers read other teachers blogs for their own professional development. They read other blogs specifically those written by teachers to find helpful hints. They find ideas for lessons or for how others handle similar situations. They find good ideas on teaching and get others perspectives. I have used the internet many times to get ideas for a lesson and blogs are the same way. Teachers also get feed back from others through comments. People respond to what you say. If a teacher posted a lesson that they used in class that worked really well and they want others to be able to use it then they post it on their blog. Other teachers can then read it and use the idea and then comment on the post and tell how it went and if they changed it or what not. Blogging is a great way to communicate with other teachers on a professional level. Teachers can grow in their knowledege. Teachers can also learn more about things such as technology. Some teachers post how to use technology in the classroom and it can be very helpful. New teachers love all the help they can get. Teachers want to make their classroom the best it can be so that their students can learn and it helps teachers to get new or fresh ideas. Blogs are great for professional development especially, teachers. Great teachers collaberate with others to see what they have been doing that works. I have been reading a blog called Ed Tech Journeys at http://preilly.wordpress.com/. This blog has been helpful to read. It has helpful tips on things such as how to handle stress in the education field and how to handle meetings. I find it useful and interesting to read. He uses his own situations as examples which alsways helps to understand and it makes it more personal.

Technology helping the learning process

Technology can really help teachers and students in the classroom. There are a lot of different tools that a person can use in education to help students learn. Technology is all around us and we use it without even thinking about it. People use cell phones everyday without even realizing that they are using technology. Cell phones are useful not only in a person's personal life, but can also be helpful in the class. Teachers can use their cell phones to post a gabcast. This can be helpful to parents or students who are visually impaired or are simply better auditory learners. Cell phones can also be useful to call parents if needed. Sometimes schools only have one phone that teachers can use to call parents. Teachers should be very cautious about giving their cell phone number out, but can use it if needed to call parents. Technology can be used in many different ways in the classroom. Teachers can blog, create a movie, use cameras, spreadsheets, curriculum pages, the internet, and websites. A simply task such as, being able to use the computer is using technology to help student learning. Teachers can have students type their papers on the computer. Teachers can also use their computers to create power points to help teach a lesson or even use the smart board to teach. Teachers can use computers to do grades. It makes it easier on the teacher and allows students to be able to see their progress and where they are at instintly. Teachers can allow their students to use the internet to find information or do research projects. Teachers can use different websites to make a scavenger hunt and to have students find certain information and teach a particular lesson. Teachers can also create their own webpage. This can be very useful to students and parents. Teachers can post upcoming events and assignments. Teachers can use the webpage to inform parents and tell them what the students will be learning that week. Teachers must remember to update their webpage. This can also help students know what they missed if they were not in class. Teachers can also put links to other good websites for students and parents. Students could have links to websites that are good educational games and activities. Webpages can be a great communication tool if kept up to date. Teachers can put information on thewebpage such as email address and school number where the teacher can be reached. Technology can help the learning process for students and teachers. It gives students a variety and many different choices to teach a lesson. Teachers should not simply stand in front of the class and teach a lesson. Technology is growing and teachers need to stay up to date with technology and use it in the class. Students learn a lot and benenfit from technology. Scavenger hunts are a good example. Instead of simply having a student to a worksheet, a teacher can allow the students to find the information on the internet using a fun scavenger hunt game. It makes it more interactive for students and they are more likely to learn and remember the informaion. Technology helps keep students involoved and interested. Technology helps teach and assess students and show them thier progress. Teachers have many tools to use so they should try to use as many as they can. Students learn in a variety of ways so why not do what is best for the students. Usinf technology will help them in the future because they will be familiar with it when they get older and have to use it.