There are a million educational software programs out there that are great for kids. Not only are these programs educational and informative but they are also fun. In my opinion, there is nothing better than learning that kids WANT to do.
A lot of games teach skills that kids aren't even aware of. My favorite computer game growing up was the Adventures of the Zoombinis. This game involved getting little tiny creatures, zoombinis, from an unhappy home to a new, peaceful land. In order to get them from one place to the other, the player had to pass a series of challenges. All of the challenges involved something educational- making patterns, grouping characteristics, critical thinking skills, deductive reasoning, etc. I never thought of the game as educational- I played it purely for pleasure. However, in the process, I learned and practiced a lot of important skills without even realizing it.
I think it is important to allow students to play educational games, particularly games that aren't obviously educational. This will help students foster a love for learning without thinking that learning is cheesy or boring. Some traditional educational software are a little cheesy and boring, and I think that can be a huge turnoff to a student.
Monday, December 3, 2007
VideoSoftware
In my high school years, Video Software played a huge role in many of my classes. Classes would require us to work in group and videotape some sort of clip- usually a dramatic reenactment of a book we had read or maybe even something based off of a screenplay of our own. We would then have to edit the footage we had, add sound bytes, transitions, rolling credits, etc.
At the time, I thought this was extremely tedious, however now, looking back with a more open mind, I see it as an excellent, almost ingenious, way to incorporate technology into the classroom. Some of my fondest memories are of the crazy videos we shot in the middle of the winter for a project in English on Romeo and Juliet. Video projects are the ultimate expression of creativity!! They're always fun and students always get into them. Yes, the editing can be a little bit annoying, but I suppose in the long run it was worth all the good times had while shooting. For most the editing isn't even that big of a deal- and it gives students to perfect opportunity to learn about software, uploading onto a computer, inserting, editing, recording- all sorts of technology stuff. Students are so excited with their video project that they don't even realize all the skills and practice they are acquiring.
Hopefully one day when teaching middle school, I will be proficient enough in VideoSoftware to allow my students the opportunity to do their own video project.
At the time, I thought this was extremely tedious, however now, looking back with a more open mind, I see it as an excellent, almost ingenious, way to incorporate technology into the classroom. Some of my fondest memories are of the crazy videos we shot in the middle of the winter for a project in English on Romeo and Juliet. Video projects are the ultimate expression of creativity!! They're always fun and students always get into them. Yes, the editing can be a little bit annoying, but I suppose in the long run it was worth all the good times had while shooting. For most the editing isn't even that big of a deal- and it gives students to perfect opportunity to learn about software, uploading onto a computer, inserting, editing, recording- all sorts of technology stuff. Students are so excited with their video project that they don't even realize all the skills and practice they are acquiring.
Hopefully one day when teaching middle school, I will be proficient enough in VideoSoftware to allow my students the opportunity to do their own video project.
Discovery Education
Discovery Education is great resource for teacher! When creating our collabrative lesson plan, Discovery Education connected us to great websites and gave us interesting ideas for a creative and engaging lesson plan. If we actually had to implement the lesson plan, there was even a part of the website that helped you create worksheets and crosswords puzzles to handout to students.
It not only is great for teachers, but it is also a fun website for students. It provides many opportunities for students to expand and practice their science knowledge. I love the way they present information- it is very creative and visually pleasing. The site even provides science fair project ideas and tips.
As a future science teacher, Discovery Education is going to be a great resource for me in my future classroom.
It not only is great for teachers, but it is also a fun website for students. It provides many opportunities for students to expand and practice their science knowledge. I love the way they present information- it is very creative and visually pleasing. The site even provides science fair project ideas and tips.
As a future science teacher, Discovery Education is going to be a great resource for me in my future classroom.
Internet Safety
In the past couple years, the Internet has become a standard part of life. For this reason, it is very important that we teach students how to use and navigate it. However, with the Internet come many concerns for safety. While it can be a great tool, it can also be very dangerous- it includes information of ALL kinds and it is very easy to stumble across something unexpected. For example, typing www.facebook wrong in the address bar- www.faecbook.com- results in a 'naughty' website rather than the popular social networking site. The Internet also connects people like never before- people can be easily accessible if they are not careful. Unfortunately, the inter net attracts all sorts of people, so it necessary that a person protect themselves and be very, very careful with who they communicate over the Internet.
It is important that teachers teach students safe Internet practice. It is also important that parents are aware of the many dangers of the Internet. In this day and age, it is not uncommon for kids to have much more technology knowledge than their parents. Parents need to be a step ahead of their kids and enact appropriate filters and monitor young children's use of the Internet. Both educators and parents need to take an active role in protecting young people on the Internet and teach appropriate and safe useage practices.
It is important that teachers teach students safe Internet practice. It is also important that parents are aware of the many dangers of the Internet. In this day and age, it is not uncommon for kids to have much more technology knowledge than their parents. Parents need to be a step ahead of their kids and enact appropriate filters and monitor young children's use of the Internet. Both educators and parents need to take an active role in protecting young people on the Internet and teach appropriate and safe useage practices.
Technology in the Classroom
Technology savvy classrooms scare me. As a technology Neanderthal, I am sure my students will know much, much more about computers than I will. It is obvious that computers play a huge role in the classroom. I am shocked when I go to placements by how much students do on the computer! I am afraid I won't be able to keep up!
I am an old fashioned girl, and would prefer to just ignore technology- it makes my life more complicated. I get exhausted by the constant and speedy communication and find it all more of a burden than helpful! Give me an old, heavy encyclopedia- I'd rather research for information there than on the Internet.
However, there is simply no way, in this day and age, that I can ignore it- especially if I want to be a teacher. It is becoming mandatory that certain computer skills be taught. In order to be a good teacher, I am going to have to be proficient in those skills- not to mention a step ahead if I don't want my kids to walk all over me. Technology raises the standard. It forces us to be on the ball and up to speed- now a days, parents can email a teacher at any time and the teacher is expected to reply quickly and efficiently. All I can hope is that I'm up for the challenge.
I am an old fashioned girl, and would prefer to just ignore technology- it makes my life more complicated. I get exhausted by the constant and speedy communication and find it all more of a burden than helpful! Give me an old, heavy encyclopedia- I'd rather research for information there than on the Internet.
However, there is simply no way, in this day and age, that I can ignore it- especially if I want to be a teacher. It is becoming mandatory that certain computer skills be taught. In order to be a good teacher, I am going to have to be proficient in those skills- not to mention a step ahead if I don't want my kids to walk all over me. Technology raises the standard. It forces us to be on the ball and up to speed- now a days, parents can email a teacher at any time and the teacher is expected to reply quickly and efficiently. All I can hope is that I'm up for the challenge.
Email in the Classroom
Last semester, I had a placement in the CollegeSchool for EDUC230. Our assignment was to work one on one with a student in whatever area they happened to need a little extra practice with. The girl that I worked with always had to work on her typing skills. One method the teacher used to practice typing skills was through email! The CollegeSchool has its own network where students and teachers can email back and forth. Rather than doing a program like Mavis Beacon over and over again, students would send emails. This allowed them not only to communicate but also apply and practice their typing skills in a real life setting. I thought this was a great way to incorporate typing skills. My student thought emailing was a really cool thing to do, so even though she hated to type, she still got excited to send an email. Her and I got in the habit of writing to each other. It was a painless and fun way to practice typing.
Excel
While I find Excel to be a great tool, it can also be very overwhelming. It offers so many services that in navigating through the program, it can be easy to get lost.
When teaching Excel in the classroom, I think it is very important to highlight the formulas and functions that are most commonly used and focus intently on those few items. Overkilling a few functions would be better than to brief a mass amount of functions. Students would only get confused and be unable to remember anything. In my computer experience, I have been taught Excel many, many times. Each time, my professors briefed a whole lot of different formulas and functions that Excel is capable of- as a result, the only thing I know how to use is AutoSum. I feel that if my teachers had spent more time of a select few and important functions, I would be a more proficient Excel user.
In elementary school, the basic functions are the most practical tools to be taught anyway. AutoSum is great for totaling numbers for any class- recorded times for a science experiment, gathered statistics for a math class- the opportunities are endless. Another Excel resource that is great in the classroom is the graph maker.
When teaching Excel in the classroom, I think it is very important to highlight the formulas and functions that are most commonly used and focus intently on those few items. Overkilling a few functions would be better than to brief a mass amount of functions. Students would only get confused and be unable to remember anything. In my computer experience, I have been taught Excel many, many times. Each time, my professors briefed a whole lot of different formulas and functions that Excel is capable of- as a result, the only thing I know how to use is AutoSum. I feel that if my teachers had spent more time of a select few and important functions, I would be a more proficient Excel user.
In elementary school, the basic functions are the most practical tools to be taught anyway. AutoSum is great for totaling numbers for any class- recorded times for a science experiment, gathered statistics for a math class- the opportunities are endless. Another Excel resource that is great in the classroom is the graph maker.
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