Response # 5: Free Write, How are you doing?

Please let me know how you feel you are doing in the class so far. Is there anything that you are struggling with? Is there anything you would like to learn about that we haven't learned yet? What are some things that you have learned from this class? How are you planning to put these things to use in your teaching? Is there anything I can do as a teacher to better support your learning?

I feel that I am doing great in ED 210 because I'm being an engaged learner. I love working consistently with a new operating system and learning things I didn't know before, like specific programs, IMovie or Garage band. I've know a lot that we've covered and been comfortable completing various tasks, but what I am really taking from this class is how to appropriately integrate technology across all content areas. I feel that I'm successfully learning this knowledge through class and homework assignments.
I'm currently not struggling with anything, I did however struggle with the Garage Band project. Not because I was uncomfortable or wasn't understanding the program or assignment it was that I don't have a musical ear. I can't hear the difference in notes or keys, but I thought this program was neat because it told you what note the loop was in. (very helpful for me as an individual) Overall I tried my best with the project and learned tons about how to musically depict words.
I've enjoyed learning all the programs, and I can't think of anything specifically I want to learn in addition. With learning each program we've discussed how we could use it in the classroom, which has been helpful in taking what I want from the class. In this class I have learned so much, not only how to use most of the programs (pages, keynote, garage band, imovie, etc.) that come standard on a MAC, but I've also learned how to effectively use them in a classroom.
Now that I've learned what these programs do and how to use them, I will continually keep them in mind when doing various lessons in my classroom. I now know how to appropriately integrate these programs into the classroom so student's creativity can flourish and their learning style can be authentic.
I look forward to completing this course, and to start applying EVERYTHING I've learned to my very own classroom.
Thank you.
T.L.G

Response # 4: Five-year-olds Pilot their own Project Learning

First, give your overall impressions of this model of learning. Be observant of how the technology is used as a tool in this kindergarten classroom. What different applications or devices were utilized? What were some ways you saw the teachers using technology with their students? How did this support learning?

After watching this video on how students at Auburn Early Education Center are learning, I was stunned that this isn't how more students are learning and that technology isn't being integrated like this in more classrooms. These five-year-olds were learning writing conventions that I see seven-year-olds in the field learning.

The things that they were learning and the projects that they were engaged in were authentic so students were truly interested and involved in their learning. In the projects they were doing they were using computers and the internet to research about planes and Brazil. The teachers at this center used smart boards in all their classrooms that allowed them to look up anything the children might question with a few taps on a giant board that all students could see. The whiteboards were also used for writing and reading which allowed it to be manipulated by the students so that they were engaged in their learning.

The teachers were making technology available for their students so they could use their curiosity to be the conductor of their own learning by looking up internet resources. Technology allows teachers to let students be responsible for their learning, which makes it more meaningful and a student's retention of new things last longer when they learn through experience, like looking up what controls are needed to make a plane run. With the use of technology teachers are teaching students to be problem solvers rather than running to an adult for an answer. They learn how to discovered the right answer from the teachers. The use of technology in these classroom also made it possible for the teacher to incorporate all content areas into an event that occurred in their classroom, the death of their class pet. Before the use of technology in classroom something like this would not have been possible.

The use of technology in these classroom supported learning because students learned how to discover answers. With technology the teacher was able to show students where and how they can find lots of information they might need. By integrating technology into writing, reading, science and math these teachers were making these students life-long learners because they were learning skills that will continue to support learning. Technology also supported learning through hands-on learning for those learners, the smart-board allowed for students to manipulate their writing for these types of learners too. The smart-board supported those diverse learners that may have visual issues. The use of technology in these classrooms supported learning in many more ways than the average classrooms for
every type of learner.

Response # 3: Are schools killing creativity?

Do you agree or disagree with Sir Robinson? In the video, he makes some pretty serious statements such as "I feel creativity should be as important as literacy in today's schools." Do you agree or disagree with this statement. Why or why not? What have your experience with creativity been in the past? How do you express yourself?

Sir Robinson brings up a great theory in this short, twenty minute video. It is that every child is talented and creative, but these two things are often smothered in schools by all the other things on the curriculum, math, science, reading, writing and history. I completely agree with Sir Robinson that schools are not providing time for students to be creative or to do things creatively. I know from practicum experiences and from conversing with current educators that they are struggling to fit the normal content areas into their schedules. Because of the pressures of national testing for funding, areas like reading and math are overrunning our classrooms.Subjects such as science and history are being sacrificed to being taught only once a week, never-mind trying to fit art and music into the mix. I also agree that "creativity should be as important as literacy in today's schools." Being able to be creative is a life long skill that will be essential to students' futures. Creativity should be as important as all the other subjects because young and older minds need time to express the creativity that is innate in them. It is also important for students to learn how to be creative in all aspects of their work because one day that creativity that they learned is what will set them apart from the rest when it comes down to the career world. When time and schedules don't permit for creative learning, creativity must be integrated into other content areas.

My experiences with creativity have been in all different subjects throughout my educational career. In various projects their have been options that inspire creativity such as requiring visuals in a research project such as things like a power point, handout (brochure, pamphlet), or a poster board. In Geometry we used art creativity, we had to draw some monument or building on poster board to scale. In my Asian studies class in high school we had to create a movie where we (the students) did the acting about a time in Asian history. And as an educator I have also incorporated creativity, I have created lesson plans that promoted creativity through creative writing that required drawn pictures.
I express myself through originality. No matter the project I always try to make it original by adding some touch of creativity, whether that's adding some picture to an essay, or creating a colorful power point to spice up a presentation. I know from experience I feel more willing to do school work and proud of the work I did when I know that it is creative.
Creativity gives student work a sense of 'their own' and that brings pride. I believe that creativity adds 'voice' and personality to everything students do. Creativity should be and needs to be encouraged in everything that students do.

Response # 2: Reflect on your own experiences using technology

"Reflect on your own experiences using technology for learning. What technologies were used when you were a student and how were they used? How were technology-related skills taught to you as a student? What was emphasized? What skills and knowledge to you already possess to help you meet the challenges of effectively integrating technology into instruction. How did you learn those skills?"

Coming from a small school with just over 300 students total, k-12 that is, funding for everything including technology based learning and using technology to learn was extremely limited.

In Algebra in 9th grade we were introduced to graphing calculators, although there was only one set for the entire math department, we did get to use them on occasion. The school had one computer lab with old, gateway computers and there were about seven macs in our library that were loaded with a much older operating system. The were those colored imac, perhaps they weren't even imac yet. The school used a lot of overhead projectors for various lessons and this is definitely the most technological thing we used frequently. I don't think that it really enhanced out learning in any way. In about tenth grade I had the option to take the one and only computer class in which I learned how to use Microsoft Front Page to create a website, excel to make spreadsheets, publisher to make pamphlets and business cards, powerpoint to make presentations and we used Word for various other things too. Things that were emphazied in my technology in education were the basics. They taught us the basics so that we were weren't completely from the dark age, and most of us that graduated were computer literate.Technology was rarely integrated in to other content areas unfortunately.

Because I haven't learned much about technology in my high school career, especially using it in other content areas ,and my interest in it, I have taken it upon myself to learn as much about the newest things and technologies. I will be depending on this course to open my eyes to technology in education and I will learn these skill by being involved and engaged in and out of class.
Another way I will learn about technology in education is by my field experience in my Practicum 1. The skills I learn in class can be directly applied to actuality of a classroom and in addition I will have the opportunity to actually SEE how technology is being used in classrooms today.