Digital Blog Post #J

Chapter 11: Engaging Students in Performance Assessment and Reflective Learning

There was many points of interest in this chapter. The first I would like to discuss is The Role of Assessment in Teaching and Learning. In the teacher environment, there is three forms of assessment (which I did not know), they are: New Teacher Assessment, Student Assessment, and Student Self Assessment. 

• New Teacher Assessment: I knew that this was something that teachers had to go through. Throughout teaching careers, teachers have to be assessed by their supervisors. They have to make sure that the way they are teaching is professional, effective, and covering the course material. To become a teacher, you have to take a test mandated by the state to get your license. It is just followed up by being observed from teachers who will mentor you and supervise you. Finally, you'll have to complete summaries about what you have learned about a variety of things that you will use while teaching.
• Student Assessment: You will have to find ways to assess the students' learning. This could be in t

est forms or others forms as well. This also has to deal with looking back on yourself and how effective your teaching methods are. You will collect the student assessments in data forms so that you can show their progress (or decrease) as the school year goes on. This is usually done in the form of a report card and grades throughout the year. Also, you can look back at yourself if everyone doesn't do well on something to go switch up the ways you're teaching the subject. 

• Student Self Assessment: This type of assessment is how the students engage in the assessment process. The involvement of students in the assessment process will give them a chance to voice their own opinions for how the school year is going. They can be anonymous, so that the students' feel more comfortable and will be more willing to be honest. 

To continue, the next point of interest was the Technology for Civic Engagement and Service Learning section. Civic engagement is experiences that students develop outside of the classroom atmosphere working to improve the community from their engagement. Service learning develops outside of the classroom as experiences that help improve the community while learning academic concepts and skills. Both of this skills impact the K-12 grades in many ways such as:

• Learning of academics
• Learn how to deal with real-world problems
• Students are able to connect their classwork with outside work
• Understand the importance of different things such as politics

Civic Engagement and Service Learning includes 5 steps:

1. Personal Reflection: with the reflection, students can make sense of how they can connect their involvement in the community to the classroom
2. Project Documentation: Different technologies can be ways to document the project such as video cameras, smartphones, and photos.
3. Service Projects: The integration of technology in communities and classrooms will help individuals to learn the use of these technologies.
4. Social Media Projects: With the contribution of media projects such as blogs, wikis, digital magazines, and other electronic presentations students can bring to light new ideas or things they have learned developing these projects.
5. Apps for Social Change: apps can focus on students and communities can contribute to social improvement. 

Lastly, I liked the section Reasons for teaching with Clickers. This sections was comprised in four areas.

• Active learning:
• Teaching with a clicker helps the students express their opinions with the use of technology. They are more easily able to answer something with the use of something, from their seat, with the use of technology. 
• Student involvement:
• The use of things such as clickers will involve the whole student body, especially the younger kids. They will think the item is cool and want to participate, especially if they see others doing it. Everyone gets involved and has a chance to participate in the lesson. 
• Real-time feedback:
• The teachers are able to analyze the knowledge of the students for the particular subject they are working on because of the amount of student involvement, therefore if something in the teacher's teaching method needs to be changed, it can before a test.
• Question-centered instruction:
• This type of discussion is when the students are by themselves, put in pairs, or groups to answer a question and they do so with the clicker. This will see where the majority of the class is at. Students are able to ask questions before they respond, that way they can think and develop an answer. 

 Choose Clickers, here's why!

Digital Blog Post #I

Chapter 4: Designing Lessons and Developing Curriculum with Technology

There were multiple points of interest in this chapter. The first thing I would like to discuss is Teaching Goals, Methods, and Procedures (how to teach). This section in the book first caught my eye because it seemed like it would be very helpful to me in my career as a teacher. It is important for teachers to create goals for themselves, as well as develop goals that the students will be able to achieve. The goals for the teacher would provide a way to go about things, meaning how to change the teaching up so that the students could get the most out of their learning if they aren't succeeding at first. Goals for the students to connect to will get them interested in the learning process. The next step in order to create a great environment for students to become successful is to develop the methods of the teacher. This will help show the students the material. The procedures connect everything together. Without that, there would be no teaching atmosphere. I believe that with the help of technology, everything would be able to be furthered to create an even better atmosphere with all these steps. 

The next section that intrigued me was Using Technology in Lesson Planning. To begin with, there is a variety of lesson plans that are already online and ready for you to use if needed. There are multiple lesson plans that include an online experience that engage the students. The downloadable lesson plans include learning objectives. I thought that when I was reading this section it would tell me how to create a lesson plan with the use of technology in it, not that it would just give lesson plan templates. So it was interesting at first, but then dwindled out towards the end. It is a blessing that lessons are free to teachers if one is need of an idea, but overall as a teacher it's your job to make it your own. 

Lastly, there was another section that really caught my attention. It was called Using Electronic Grading Software. The reasoning for my interest on this section was because my teachers that I have now all provide my grades for me online. It is really convenient for me to find all my grades for my assignments, see what I'm doing next, and figure out what my missing assignments are. In addition to that, there's even space for teachers to provide their own comments on the assignment for why you got the grade that you did. I think this would be a great tool for students and teachers to use, even when the students are young, because the parents can always check the grades too!

Digital Blog Post #H

Chapter 9: Expressing Creativity with Multimedia Technologies

There was many interesting aspects in this chapter. The first interesting part to this chapter was the section called Strategies for Using PowerPoint with Students. It really grabbed my attention because I know a lot about PowerPoint, because I've used it most of my life and wanted to see if I could learn more. PowerPoint is often used as a source to present information. These presentations using include information to inform while being in a section of graphic design. Graphic design is a process that someone using PowerPoint will use in order to arrange the information and images to hold most attention. There are a few different aspects that one has to take into consideration when making a PowerPoint, those are:

• Who is the audience
• What do I want my audience knowing or remembering

If you think about the people viewing the PowerPoint, you can create a more successful PowerPoint. There are also a few different steps that one can take to create the best presentation!

• Use Images to Generate Class Discussion
• I've learned in my creation of PowerPoints, that the more information you have the more boring it is so it is important to add some pictures! The pictures will grab everyone's attention while also provided another source of information for student's to attain the material.  
• Promote Visual Analysis of Discussion Topics
• Visuals will also promote discussion if you lead it to that way. Asking questions when the picture is presented will get minds flowing. I never even thought to do that!
• Display Questions or Comments for Short Writing Assignments
• Giving open-ended questions for the students to respond to during the presentation will also get the mind flowing! It is not something that students really like to do unless they know the subject so, I, personally, would put it at the beginning to see what they know and then put it at the end of the PowerPoint to see how much they were listening. 
• Use the Slides as Attention-Getters
• It is important to make the PowerPoints as attention-getting as possible. In order to keep the student entertained, you must give them a reason (other than boring information) to entertain them. You can add different effects to the slides so that they pay attention including sound to pop for each slide or each fact! 
• Develop Your Own PowerPoint Learning Games
• This is one I've never even thought to do. Teachers can find games that go with their PowerPoint information or create their own! I think it's important to get the students involved so this is a great idea! 

Furthermore, the next section that intrigued me was the section on Webcasts. I didn't know this but the term webcasts is a combination of web and broadcasts. It makes sense thinking about this, but I just thought it was just a word created! This describes different video and audio over the internet. Webcasts can be used in teaching in all sorts of different ways! Older documents could be shown onto video for the students to visualize it. Also, some webcasts even read aloud older books or documents. In addition to that, during a presentation, while you are giving other information you can easily switch it over to a webcast to grab the students attention. I think webcasts would be very suitable in the classroom atmosphere.


Lastly, another point that interested me was the Strategies for Using Cameras with Students. These strategies are for students that have the ability to use cameras on a daily basis.

• Use regularly. 
• It is important for students to have the use of cameras on a day-to-day basis so that students keep the skills they attain in their heads. Cameras don't have to just be used for special events, but just for anything. As students use them more often they will be more confident.
• Record events while they are unfolding.
• In daily or weekly events that happen in the classroom, such as science experiments, students can use the cameras to video tape. If students are able to look over their work, they can use it to find what mistakes they made. Also, it'd be cool to see some things replayed. 
• Generate, edit, and publish student writing.
• You can also use cameras to publish student writing. This would add drama and other effects to make it more interesting! (I never even thought of that!)
• Create a video production area in the classroom.
• It is very simple to make a digital recording studio in the classroom! You can put the camera in the corner of the room on a tripod. And have a little green-screen set up in everything! I remember when I had these in my art class and it was pretty cool!

Test Time!

Digital Blog Post #G

Chapter 10: Promoting Success for All Students Through Technology

The first point I would like to discuss in this chapter is Differentiated Instruction (DI). To begin with, I learned that differentiated instruction is a teaching approach that involves the creation of different educational experiences for the students. Different educational approaches could range from reading a book, playing online educational games, or even experiments! I believe it is important to include different educational learning styles in the school environment so that students don't get bored. In order to keep the student learning we must keep the students entertained; this happens with new and different things for the students to do in the classroom! 

The next point of interest I would like to talk about is a word cloud. I believe I've used this in one of my other blogs. It is very interesting and grabs attention! A word cloud is a form of representation that involves the text mixed around in different ways. I found it very entertaining, and it's very easy to make! This is a very supportive tool for visual learners! As a teacher I will definitely use that device in my classroom. 

Lastly, I would like to discuss the Interactive electronic storybooks and storybook apps. Interactive electronic storybooks help the students visualize their books they are reading on a computer. In this case, I believe that this is a good idea for kids. When I find myself reading, I much more enjoy it on a computer than an actual book. Storybook apps also help bring this stories to life! These can be found on tablets, computers, and even smartphones (which most young children have nowadays). The electronic storybooks and storybook apps make it so much more entertaining for students to learn because of the added effects that they have. Reading a book itself doesn't have sound effects or moving animations, but electronic storybooks and storybook apps do! It keeps the students involved and entertained! It is a very great idea to include this in the education of students for all ages. 

Provided is an example of an electronic storybook:

Digital Blog Post #F

Chapter 8: Communicating and Collaborating with Social Media

 Each chapter we open ourselves up to gives more and more information about new things! The first immediate thing that caught my attention was the section called Synchronous and Asynchronous Communications. The reason this came to my attention was because I have no clue what either one of these mean. It's interesting to learn new things. I learned that synchronous communications are communications that happen immediately, in real time. An example of a synchronous communication is a telephone conversation because it happens in the moment, immediately. Asynchronous communications are involve a communication with a delay involved, not immediate. An example of these exchanges are email exchanging or commenting on social media sites. I think it is important in class to discuss these different types of communications with the students and provide them with an ability to contact you outside of class for help for classwork only. 

The next section that grabbed a hold of my attention was the section labeled Understanding Textspeak and Textisms. I thought this section would be perfect for me and I would understand everything because I am 18 years old. Textspeak or digitalk is basically terms that involve shortened words or symbols throughout technology. I thought this would be my section, but as soon as I saw the first set of words, my thoughts were mixed up. I had no idea what was being said in the first set of words, the other ones I knew. I believe that it would be good for teachers to incorporate textspeak into what they need to learn because it is important to know what students are talking about. As teachers, we have to promote a safe environment for the kids. If we collect a phone and see something that is a dangers towards others we can promote it. 

The last thing that interested me was the section labeled Building a Standards Wiki. The reason this interested me was because we have to create a wiki with classmates. A standards wiki would be very useful to the classroom because all the notes that the class would have would be all in one place. It would all be organized so that if students are unable to pick up some of the information from class, they can go home and look it up again.

Test on the blog

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Digital Blog Post: #E

Chapter 7: Exploring Problem Solving with Software, Apps, and Games

This chapter was very beneficial to my learning about the software that teachers use daily with students. To begin with, the first point that interested me in the chapter was the section labeled Types of Software. This section was short, but still informative. I didn't know there was a couple different types of software to be learned about until I read this chapter. For example, system software was discussed in the section. System software controls what is going on in the computer and how it functions. In difference to that, application software goes more in depth with the controls of the computer. It produces many different services for people to use. This includes different word, presentations, databases, spreadsheets, and etc that we all use almost everyday. I found it very interesting because I thought programs like these had their own controls, not controlled by the same base software.




 To continue, the next section in this chapter that really interested me was Building, Inventing, and Creating Software. I found just the heading interesting just because I was intrigued on how to do those things. I did not realize until I read the section that it was basically just creating projects throughout PowerPoint, Word, or Excel. These are what I know to be as basic skills only because I've used them my whole life. Now, I could see how others may think differently. Those who have not been exposed to technologies at a young age have a harder time learning how to use the programs. While there are usually tutorials for these programs, someone who is not used to using the computer will not have a very easy time with these programs. Something someone sees as simple is not always the same view to the other. When teaching, I believe I will keep those thoughts in the back of my mind, knowing not everyone will be exposed to the same things.

Lastly, the section labeled Debates about Games and Gaming really got my attention. The only reason this got my attention was because every time I have been in a debate class there always was something about games and gaming. It was mostly directed towards the violent games, but I still found it interesting that they place it in every educational material. Video games do sway youth, which is why I believe that educational games are a good idea. Now if there was an educational video game that involved violence, I would not support that at all. In my teaching strategies I want to incorporate education computer games for the students. Now that students in younger grades are required to do some of their work online, I believe incorporating educational games into part of their time spent on the computer would be well worth it.  

Digital Post #D

Chapter Five: Teaching Information Literacy and Digital Citizenship

 There were many points of interest in this chapter, as well as the others. The first point of interest that sparked my attention was the section e-Books and e-Readers. I don't really pay much attention to e-books and e-Readers. I know, as a student at Florida SouthWestern State college I have access to them, but I don't know much about them. While they are convenient, there are some people who believe that e-books and reading online does not cause as much intellectual growth as reading from printed texts. E-books are books that can be read throughout devices that can use internet such as computers or e-readers. In addition to that, on these devices there are apps that allow you to read all sorts of books, other than the e-books, and including downloadable textbooks. These are almost weightless items and so easy to handle. I feel like the online ability to read informational as well as fun books  is necessary in today's society. Today is all about technology! Students will go days without their books, months even, but not a day goes by that they don't have their phone, tablet, iPad, etc with them. I'm glad that technology has evolved so much, to try and make it easier on everyone to be successful in life. The academic abilities of students are going up thanks to e-Books and e-Readers! This is a great tool for teachers and students to use in the school environment. In addition to that, if students choose to go into business, e-books can benefit their businesses!

The next section that aroused my attention was Strategies for Conducting Effective Searches with Students. The reason this grabbed hold of my attention was because I didn't realize there was actual 'strategies' some people looked at in order to maintain a safe and effective environment for the students on the internet. There are four different steps in order to create that environment including: 

• Introducing Search Sites Designed for Students
• Teaching Students to Critically Evaluate Search Results
• Using Visual Search Tools 
• Ensuring Safe Online Experiences for Students

Continuing, I didn't realize search sites needed to be specified for students to use. I thought it was common sense "use Google" or "use Bing." Now I get that it's just because I'm older I think that way. When I was younger it wasn't common sense for me to use those sites. I guess it's a learned habit now. I see why we have to teach that to the younger students, and sometimes the older students as well. Also, I believe that the part that teaching students to critically evaluate search results should be readily enforced. Some students will choose websites for projects and such that are not credible sources for information. I know that before I started paying attention, or having strict criteria on what to use, I would always be in the wrong for using a non-credible site. It is important for students to learn that they must research the author of the site and find their background information to see if they are a credible source for the topic at hand. In addition to that, I believe that the visual search tools are important as well. Some people are better off as visual learners, so it's important that they have a visual on the topic at hand. In the search results videos appear that they can watch to see if it's the topic they are looking for. Lastly, I think that another great addition to provide searches for the students is ensuring a safe online experience for each of them. I believe that preselected sites is not only safer, but it is also helpful to students if they are researching a certain topic. They will be closer to the information then if they went out on their own.

 The last addition to this weeks piece on chapter five that caught my interest was the section Responsibilities of Digital Citizens. I believe that once someone uses the internet there is certain rules that they should follow. The internet is supposed to be a safe place. I believe that students must be told the certain rules to follow because without having the knowledge of the rules, a student shouldn't be held accountable, but they are. It is a teachers job to inform the student on the dangers of plagiarism and cheating. That is the most important aspect that students must stray from.