Of course everyone has had an encounter with technology at some point in their life. For me, I have had several computer classes that were required for middle and high school. These were basic skills of the computer like typing with speed and accuracy, or finding websites to answer questions for essays. One type of technology that continues to build my skills is my cell phone. For instance the apps that I have to download, internet service, and Email that I use provide entertainment and a way for me to look up things at a moments notice. I also have a blue tooth speaker,an apple watch, and a headset that I use on a daily to connect my daily routines or use to commnicate with family and friends. I believe that my life, like many others will continue to have technology now and in my future.
I continue to have professional development on technology that is used in the teacher realm, for instance the use of calculators. I have been taught many strategies that students can use so that they don’t have to do everything by hand. Grading has become easier with the help of software like “Eduphoria”, or even math apps like “Photomath” that show the right answers for problems and how to work them out. Honestly this type of app makes it hard for teachers, because they dont have to know the material, they could just copy. I normally use video clips from youtube or facebook to help me teach a subject as well. I feel as though I am pretty experienced with technology ,but there is so much more that I haven’t explored which is why I am trying to obtain this masters. I will always be interested in techniques that help me make a differnce in my students life.
I took an assessment from “Northstar Digital Literacy” about basic computer skills. The reason I took this test is because I wanted to see if I knew all the basic parts and could manuver through the computer without any mistakes. I made a 96 percent on the assessment but it made me question if I really did know about computers or if I just have been trained to do serveral things on the computer and it’s just inate now. Now a days I don’t focus on why im doing something on a computer , I just do it. For instance, I don’t know where to go to fix internet problems or that different internet sights or settings may block me from seeing information. Honeslty the only way I figure things out about computers is through professional development or by exploring on my own when I find a problem. I remember when I was trying to decide between what laptop I wanted to buy and I was so focused on the brand of the computer. The first one I obtained was a mac book pro but every time I saved a document , I could never get it to open because macs are so software specific. The second one I received as a gift ended up being a dell, but the person selling them provided information about the core. He said it was an i7 and because I have never made a computer or know how they work, this information had to be dumbed down for me. He finally expressed it was the computers speed.At that point I understood that just because its named brand, and highly recommended it doesn’t mean it’s the best.
My plans for future use of technology is the reason why I am taking this masters program. I learned from the teacher I student taught with that the use of technolnogy can keep not only students prepared and informed but the parents as well. The teacher had a website where he downloaded notes, videos of his lessons, and assignments for the family. Other teachers at the school would even get on the site to share infomration or get the work for the week. I was truly impressed because it allowed parents to stay involved with the daily activities of their students. Plus they had the opportunity to learn and help students with homework. I plan to be able to incorporate this type of environment for my students and parents as well as learn how to use smartboards effectively and efficiently in the classroom. I want to learn technology that will help me bring math to life. I asked my students on the second day of class, where do you see math and they said grocery stores, banks, in construction, and various other places. With their prior knowledge about these types of everyday places or events, I want to be able to build on that and have them see how it all comes together. I would like to be able to find a program that shows how to buid things and why shapes are so important when buiding.
I know that if technology was taught in a way where people knew why they were using it not just how to use it, it could potentially build more problem solving skills. I hope to one day learn how to integrate technology in the best way and lead my students to success with it and without it. As you can see, either with school requirements or the pursuit of staying up to date, I will always gain more knowledge in technology and try to use it whenever I can. I believe this program will have me do just that and I am glad I made the decision to start.
If you want to see where your technology skills are today open this website to take an Assessment!
Sunday, November 6, 2016
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Finding the value of being an active memeber
A learning network is a place where growth
happens. It is any type of event where learning happens, encouragement takes place,
and ideas are shared to positively affect one’s personal or work environment.
Learning networks provide support and create opportunities where people can use
new techniques or contribute techniques to benefit their current situations.
Having a learning network will and should affect both the consumer and the
contributor due to the fact that collaboration and constant discussions occur
from people with similar topics or issues adding their different perspectives.
According to the article" 3 Step 4 Building Professional Learning
Network", by Brianna Crowley a learning network is “an ever-changing
group of connections to which teachers go to both to share and learn". It
"Includes organizations, communities, and individuals who help a person
grow as a professional"
My
experiences with the following learning communities has been very rewarding. I
consider myself a consumer instead of a contributor because at this point in my
life, I am trying to obtain my best practices and feel myself out as a teacher.
I am on a journey to understand what type of teacher I am and how I want my
classroom to function. Knowing that I have a lot less experience, I don't
always feel comfortable sharing information that I may have gained in a
classroom unless these people were just as new to this world as I. I do not
post anything but a thank you or a like on something that I found interesting
from them due to the fact is not as experiences as most with teaching.
My Learning
Networks and Where I stand with them:
Edutopia:
Edutopia is a learning
network that enables a teacher to develop skills as a professional through
multiple resources. It allows teachers to share ideas and learn from each other
but also guides a professional in the direction that interests them the most.
It talks about current issues and provides opportunities to talk and learn
about the biggest issues in education like how to relate subjects to real world
situations, project based learning, and how to correctly assess students. This
type of website incorporates a lot of fun and engaging ideas that will truly
make a difference in someone’s teaching environment. The 5 keys to this site
include: real world connection, core to learning, structured collaboration,
student driven work, and multifaceted connections. I have not been a part of
this learning network long and consider myself a consumer. I intend to one day
soon be an active member by giving feedback to the project based and real world
tasks that are provided. I want to be able to share my findings with my
students and things I would keep and did or would alter in order to help
teachers dealing with the type of environment I find myself in. I would contact
several people within the group that have the same interests and discuss the
topics that we have in common. Thus growing my learning network and creating
more opportunities to learn from different perspectives.
Classroom
2.0
My first experience with
classroom 2.0 showed me that teachers around the world understand that our jobs
are very demanding. This site in the first five seconds allowed me a chance to
see the type of teachers that care about success for not only students but
teachers as well. There was encouragement given to specific teachers and
discussion about how some think our job is straight forward but until put in
the situation where teachers leave work and still work at home spending hours
and hours on planning and grading that they are not paid for, others would not
truly understand. This site is a space where videos and questions are asked to
evaluate the lifestyle of a teacher and talk about techniques that can help
improve difficult situations inside and outside the classroom. You must first
be approved because of spam and that made me feel safe when I finally feel
comfortable contributing to this site. As of right now I find myself in a
consumer set of mind but if I was an active member in this community I would
share my thoughts about what being a teacher means to me. I would contribute
words of encouragement to those seeking help in situations where they are
losing faith or dealing with certain students that they cannot relate to. I
would share videos or information with those who needed to hear the specific
title and try to become a positive stepping stone for more teachers like
me.
Black Educators
Rock:
This site was the first
teacher page I was brought into. Teachers I used to work with added me to the
group and continue to tag me in important messages that will help me with
teaching math or just in general. Many teacher have shared coupons and
decorations to do in my classroom. It also serves as a way to show pride in
what we are doing as teachers. I know the name may seem intimidating but I find
that a group of back educators are setting a tone for African Americans to see
that success does happen for black people. Many are still in the mindset that
this cannot happen because they are not around it or don't see it. However with
this site, I have been shown the possibilities and been able to encourage those
going into promotions. I am a contributor and a consumer. I would say I consume
more than I contribute but for those that live around me, I try to share places
in Beaumont that do special project for teachers. Activities that I try most
likely come from black educator’s rock and I truly enjoy this Facebook group!
ISTE: http://www.iste.org/
This learning network
provides guidelines to using technology in the classroom. It strives to connect
people to technology to help create more in depth learning using tools that
could change the way we think about the world. It looks to keep students
involved in their own learning by finding the potential of their resources. We
are working in a world that is ever evolving and the school systems we have
created is becoming outdated for the types of tools that are being created.
With every advancement in technology, we must ensure that training and uses are
being portrayed so that people see the value and the importance of using them.
ISTE creates the opportunity and the structure of technology that we need to
address and use to be able to relate to new generations perspectives. I am a
consumer in this learning network because I just joined and am still figuring
out the guidelines to technology that they discuss. If I were an active member,
I would try to pick a few standards that I could see me using inside the
classroom and try and dissect the meaning of it in my own teaching experience.
I would write about how I could structure my classroom to this standard and
share my findings, failings and accomplishments with it. I would introduce this
site to my students and have them also pick a standard that they feel that
would like to try in the classroom and have them share it with the classroom.
This learning network provides every type of learner, and individual to share, learn,
and digest information and I believe will benefit me in every aspect.
Reference:
Brianna
Crowley. 2014. "3 Steps for Building a Professional Learning
Community".
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