Week 4 Reflection

From looking at others' Tech Savvy articles, I feel that there is a whole different world of technology out there that I could use in the classroom that I've never even thought about before. When I think about my own personal elementary education experiences, I wish that I could have had more of these incredible experiences with technology. I always feel that I am behind a little, but I love seeing all the different things that others have done with technology. From viewing the world from the satellite to pinpoint maps, locations, and areas all over the world to using a microscopic telescope to look at different items and what they're made of while connected to a computer, there are so many possibilities to explore with technology in the classroom. I just need to find out how to use them all! :)

The Tech Savvy Teacher

September 25, 2008

The Tech Savvy Teacher

By: Christina Sears

As teachers we all know that technology is worming its way into education more and more. Students these days are becoming more technologically advanced than their peers and even their parents, and at younger ages as well. It is imperative, then, that teachers find ways to incorporate this new technology into the classroom. Below is a good example of a Kindergarten science lesson that incorporates technology, effective pedagogy, and the Utah core curriculum content in a fun and exciting way.

This lesson comes from the Utah Kindergarten Core Curriculum. It is found in Standard 3, which states that students will develop an understanding of their environment. More specifically, as stated in Objective 1, students will investigate the changes in the seasons. Keep these other goals in mind as you conduct this lesson:

-identify the seasons and represent each with pictures and songs

-observe and describe typical weather for each of the seasons

-describe the information each of the five senses provides with the changing of seasons

First you want to introduce and describe what a season is to the class. Discuss what different seasons feel like, using the five senses (ie do you feel warm or cold when the sun comes out?). Explain that there are four seasons, and ask if anyone can name them. Using a projector, so that all the students may see, open up Kidsperation. Open up the Kidsperation activities, and then open the Science activities. Scroll down until you find the activity named "Weather and Seasons", and open it up. Explain to the class that you are going to place what weather happens in each of the seasons. Pick Utah as a state (or the state that you are in at the moment). Drag it into the lower right blue box, and name it as "Utah". Next, ask the class to describe to you what each of the pictures means. Point to a picture (a sun, cloud, etc) and have the students describe what that feels and looks like, so that the students know what each picture means. Next, have the class describe what the weather is like for summer. Have them help you, as a class, to choose which icons to drag into the "summer" box. Make sure to help them understand when summer is and what it feels like, so that they know how to describe it.

Divide the class into groups of two or three. Have each of the students open up Kidsperation on a computer, and let them try to do the same thing you did as a class, but for "fall", "winter", and "spring". Help students as needed. Make sure that the students take turns using the computer, and that everyone is participating. Bring the class back together, and have them contribute, as a class, to help you as the teacher fill in the other seasons, discussing why different symbols go in each of the boxes.

It is easy to see how easy technology can be incorporated into the classroom. Students learn and grow in so many more ways when they get to experience technology hands-on and utilize it themselves. This lesson was an effective way to teach students about weather and the changing seasons, while at the same time enjoying themselves and strengthening their technological abilities. What a great way to learn!

Copyrights, Fair Use, and TPACK

I had no idea that I could use and have access to so many resources through copyrights and fair use as a teacher. It opens up so many doors as far as using multimedia in the classroom and as far as bringing new ideas into my teaching.
I really enjoyed learning about TPACK as well. I'm excited for the upcoming project next week... I really think that when you bring technology, pedagogy and content together, you can have an optimum learning environment. This world is moving faster and faster down the road of technology, and I feel as though I better get moving so I can keep up with my future students.

Frustrations...

Today's class was frustrating. I felt so lost and behind all the time. We learn things in the class, and then before I really get a chance to do them we're off to something else. It also didn't help that my computer did not have many of the programs that we were looking at today, so while I'm trying to download some of them the rest of the class is exploring it, and by the time I've finished, the class is on to something else totally different and I'm left with a new downloaded program that I don't know how to use. And to top that off, my computer froze on me and had to be completely shut down and rebooted.... I really do love this class, don't get me wrong, its just that today was a bit frustrating, and I felt that I was always one step behind.

Technology Empowers!

I feel so empowered and excited every week as I end my technology class on Thursdays! I love the feeling of learning something new and exciting, like this week when we learned how to use and be on Goodreads... I went home and told my roommates about it and now we all share in goodreads. What a wonderful way to share your love of literature with others! I worked at starting up a bookclub over the summer with friends in my ward, but it sort of fell apart after people left and we couldn't really discuss and talk about a book or keep up the club. Goodreads is an awesome way to continue this, as we can decide on a book to read and then share our comments and discussions about it online. I love this class!!!

Cake Fun!

I love cooking! Can I just say that again?! I had the opportunity to practice and learn how to seriously cake decorate during the summer in order to make a friend's wedding cake (eek!). I wanted to make sure it was perfect, so this is a picture of a final run-through of it. In October I get to start actual cake decorating classes, and I can't WAIT!!! :)

The great Northwest is one of the most beautiful and scenic places in the world, and also the place that I call home. This picture was just taken during this past July in the Columbia River Gorge, from a little lookout place my family has unofficially named "Sears Point".