Technology Integration

The presentation we watched today in the IT module had a lot of good points about technology integration. I was most touched about the information shared about Rat Research and technology. I think a lot of times in the classroom students are just watching technology and not engaged in actually using the technology. We need to allow them to explore with technology and integrate it into their everyday work so that they become life long learners with technology.

AHA Moment:
Another AHA moment that I had during the presentation was that we don't know what is going to be created 30 years from now. This means that we as teachers have to continually be learning. We need to keep up-to-date with technology and not be afraid of taking risks.

Affirmation:
I think it is important to not under estimate our students. A lot of the time they know more about technology then the teacher because they "native" to using computers. We should be open to learning alongside students and allow our students to take risks and take risks with them!

Application:
"This is not about teaching computers. This is about human connection." I think this quote is extremely true and important. We should integrate technology into our class that will help benefit our students in the future. We should use technology within curriculum areas to improve learning (focus) in whatever way is appropriate.

* Kristina

Favourite Technology

So since the huge blizzardy snowfall I have decided what my FAVORITE is.
I think cars and cellphones are one of the biggest assests to technology
that we have in a Canadian winter. If I did not have these two things I
don't think I would be able to survive. When I am driving I need my
cellphone in case of emergency and I wouldn't be driving if I didn't
have a car. Thus, those are my favorites!
*Kristina

Tapped In (Tech Task #7)

So I caught a session on TappedIn . The session was a "How to use Tapped In." I found it very helpful because it taught me how to use Tapped in more efficiently. They taught me a lot of useful information to help make tapped in seem like a more user friendly place. After taking this tour, I feel more comfortable with the whole atmosphere of TappedIn and will defiantly be using it in the near feature to find out more ways to intergrate technology into teaching!!

Major Project Glitches

So we have been trying to work on our Major Project in making our movie for the past few classes. Lucky for us we have been having a lot of troubles trying to get everything to work. We have tried switching methods so many times. It gets very frustrating. However, now I know how to use about 3 different movie editing programs due to switching the programs so many times.
Just thought I would wirte about my frustrations with technology sometimes. If you have any please feel free to share.
Kristina

TUX TYPING 2

For our game search we did Tux Typing 2. It was a very good game that was very engaging for people. "Tux Typing" is an educational typing tutor for children. It features several different types of gameplay, at a variety of difficulty levels. This game is compatible with Windows and Mac. We found that this game was very education because it helped children with typing skills and with word skills. Another feature that we enjoyed was that in the game you can change the language. Thus, you can teach different languages through this program. We found it very easy to navigate through. Another feature about this program that we like is that it is free to download. We also found the penguins expressions very amusing. We recommend to use this game in the classroom because it has so many educational features to it. We think that our students would be very engaged in it and would enjoy learning through this process. It is definitely a game that gets your attention and keeps you focused on what you are doing.

Kristina, Sarah, Krista

Postcard Geography

I went to the Postcard Geography site for my tech task. The basis around this site is to "a simple project, offered to classes all over the world via the Internet. Your class commits to exchanging picture postcards (purchased, computer or handmade) with all other participants. This "Class to Class" exchange is appropriate for all ages, for public and private schools, for youth groups and for homeschools. "
I would probably use this project in any of my classes there are a lot of benefits of sending postcards from classroom to classroom:

• helps literacy in that they have to write messages to corresponding students (you can guide the students of what they should write about to meet other ares of the courses you are doing in your classroom)
• teach the ettiquitte of witing a letter/postcard
• stimulate creativity in making the postcard

I think that this site has a very good concept of how we can help children to learn about geography. By having students send postcards around the world to other students it will get them excited about learning where they are sending their postcard to and thus they will want to learn about geography.

What is "Technology"?

"For a list of all the ways technology has failed to improve the quality of life, please press three." ~Alice Kahn

I am kind of "wow-ed" at all the negative takes on technology. I think that technology has done great things in our world that is helping us accomplish things that we couldn't be able to do on our own. There are ways to get around the world in a day, ways to cure incurable diseases, etc. I think that people are focusing to much on the negative aspects of technology and not looking at the positive ones.


I have noticed in our WebCT conversations most people are focusing on the negative, so my challenge to you is to tell me why technology is beneficial to our society!


*Kristina

Using Movies as Resources

After class today I began thinking in the many ways we can use movies as resources. I also thought that if we use these movies to teach our students it may stimulate their minds better and help them to learn.
From this class I started thinking what I was going to do my major project on and I think it would be interesting, challenging, fun, and educational to make a movie. I also think that I can use this movie in my future teaching days. Now I just need to find an original topic.
*Kristina