Module+8


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Trenton Mendelson Module 8 Module 8 broke down the various forms of technology that can be used in the classroom. I believe that using technology correctly separates good teachers from great teachers. Technology allows teachers to provide lessons and materials to their students on an entirely new plane, and when used correctly is extremely effective. I believe that I have experienced each of these forms of technology in the classrooms over the years. I often wonder how my high school would have been different if I were a student today, with all the forms of technology available, versus what was used when I was in school a number of years ago. I believe that the Smartboard is a huge innovation that will have a great impact on classrooms. Last year at my paraprofessional internship in Harrisburg was my first experience with the Smartboard and I found it to be very effective. I believe that it allows teachers an opportunity to teach to students in a whole new way. As an English teacher I plan on using the Smartboard to present materials to students and help with word identification, proper grammar usage and sentence structure, as well as displaying text for the class. I feel very fortunate to have a good understanding of technology and what it is capable of. I believe that we are becoming teachers at a very unique and opportune time. I hope that the things I have learned in school will give me a leg up on other teachers in terms of the ways that I can present material to students.

Amy Wolff Module 8 22 April 2010 This module was very straightforward and basically explained pretty much every tool that a teacher can use in their classroom. None of them were a surprise to me as I have seen all of them used in my own classes, with some being used much more than others such as the writing board. I found that even after reading all of the sections there was not much that I did not already know about these tools. More so than the tools themselves, I think it is important to understand how to best use them to benefit the students the most. The module discussed the idea of how to use technology and different aids but I don’t think that these concepts can be quite understood until actually implemented in our own teaching. Even as an English teacher I plan on trying to implement every item cited in the reading, including everything from the writing board to videos. I will, however, always keep in mind how to properly use them which I know not all of my teachers have done at times. Students learn best when there are a variety of tools used in class but they need to actually fit into what is being taught as well as not be overused. I have not seen teachers using tools improperly very often but I have seen them used in questionable manners a few times while I have been in school. The one that sticks out the most in my mind was the use of Facebook in one of my classes. I felt that although it was a nice use of technology it should have been gone about differently, for example using d2l instead of Facebook as you are able to make discussions there as well which was what Facebook was being used for. I just do not think that the classroom is an appropriate place for that type of media. Another example of improper use was the overuse of videos in one of my English classes in high school. When we were learning about the classic works of literature such as Romeo and Juliet or Of Mice and Men we would not even read the stories, instead we would just watch the movies while our teacher sat behind his enjoying the stress free time. I definitely do not want to put my students through those types of situations which is why I plan on being very careful when I implement those tools into my classes. I want my students to benefit from them, not be hindered by them. A teaching aid can be great in theory but when put into the hands of the wrong teacher it can become a problem in practice which is precisely the reason for my emphasis on practice using these tools rather than on the tools themselves.

Brandon Krull Module 8 Technology has made great advancements in the past ten years. I remember in Rapid City, we only had overhead projectors and outdated T.V. s in the classrooms. So this greatly limited what could be done. But when I came to USD, I was introduced to things like the Smartboard and other online tools. It allows for them to post notes and other things online for students who missed class or like to use that stuff for review. It shows how much lack of funding or a tight budget can effect technology in the classroom. Technology in the classroom opens a wide variety of resources that are available. I’m surprised by how much Youtube is used as a teaching tool. I was upset that Beresford High School blocked it from being used. Teachers should be allowed access past the firewall to use resources that are valuable to lessons, but are subject to being abused by students. You can even take classes that are online now days. I haven’t done it yet but I will this summer, and its going to be interesting to see how it works. Teachers should use a variety of technology in their classrooms instead of relying on just one. Students can be burned out by repetitive use of anything. We need to mix it up to keep them interested and wanting to participate. This should mean that teachers stay up to date on the latest tech. and not rely on outdated techniques. Abby Suelflow Module 8 Reflection

Less than a decade ago, the internet was limited in what it could do and the people that could use it. Although many people had heard about the internet, very few people knew how to use it or had access to it for that matter. Today, the integration of the internet and other sources of technology into the classroom is no longer a new idea. Because technology is an integral part of society, it is imperative that I effectively incorporate it into my instructional strategies. One of the greatest things about the use of technology is that there are a variety of forms that have the potential to reach students of all learning styles. Studies have shown that high school students lose focus after about fifteen minutes of using the same type of instructional strategy. Therefore, the use of a variety of different technological sources would likely keep students focused as well as induce an interest and motivation in students that cannot be as readily achieved using a lecture format. Classes that I find most interesting are the ones in which the instructor uses a variety of different technological sources such as the SmartBoard, DVDs, WebQuests, and other aids available on the Internet. As a visual and hands-on learner, I found it much easier to understand and retain information when I am able to get my “feet wet” and dive into the material for myself. In addition to technology resources, I also find that guest speakers, field trips, and using the community as a resource are all excellent resources that give students the opportunity to speak with people that are experts in a particular field. I particularly enjoy going on field trips because they enable me to experience hands-on learning and each student has the opportunity to make what they want out of the field trip. Although technology is extremely beneficial for students, it is very important to be aware of its limitations. In particular, it is important for teachers to always have a back-up plan in case the technology isn’t working properly. Some teachers rely on technology so much that if it isn’t properly functioning, they have to cancel an entire day of class because they have no alternative teaching style. It is crucial that teachers utilize technology, but at the same time, they must be aware of alternative ways of delivering lessons when malfunctions do occur. In order to effectively incorporate technology and other sources of media and aids into the instructional experience, teachers must carefully think about what type of resource will enhance students’ learning in the best way possible. To properly integrate technology into the classroom means there should be a reason or objective for doing it. If the material is best learned through a lecture format, then it should be delivered as such. Students will not benefit from technology, aids, and other resources if the teacher doesn’t carefully plan and organize them into the curriculum. Haphazardly inviting a guest speaker, taking a field trip, or completing a WebQuest will only distract student learning and the students will not at all benefit from using these resources.

Kelsey Sammons Module 8

I love this module, because it covers so many methods to reach every type of learner. While I still feel the textbook needs to be an integral part of the classroom and student learning, I was interested in the other techniques the book discussed. I was particularly happy that the book gave many websites that they felt would be useful for teachers. However, I do have a hesitation when it comes to using the internet in the classroom, especially when a classroom has full dependence on the computer. I am interning at a school that is completely laptop dependant, and while I can definitely see the benefits to having this resources constantly at student’s fingertips, there are also many disadvantages for the teacher, and the most important of these being student’s attention spans. Teachers already have a hard time keeping students interested and engaged in their lessons. To put something in front of the students that can distract them fully is a mistake. Sure, there are methods for blocking certain websites, but many students are able to access these firewalls and remove them. How can teachers be sure that their students are using the computers for the assignment, and not to shop for their prom dress or check ESPN? I feel that the internet should be kept monitored and in a designated classroom. Other media methods, such as a SMARTBOARD or an overhead projector are great methods to display and interact with one’s students. They can aid a lecture, or make it easier for the visual learners to take in information. There are also many educational videos that can give an example of a different side to learning. I remember having the opportunity in many of my English classes to read a book, and then watch the movie version. This not only gave me a different idea of what the book could have been about, and how others saw it, but it allowed me to compare and contrast two different learning tools, which can only broaden students knowledge base. I will definitely be using this method to compare and contrast what my students are learning.

Jamie Wickham April 2010 Module 8

This module was interesting to me although a great deal of the information seemed like commonsense to an individual in my position who spends a great deal of time using multimedia in their education. The section that stuck out to me initially was at the end of the chapter regarding distance learning. I did not take any online courses during my undergraduate career, and only utilize them now because I commute from Sioux City for my classes. I thought distance courses were something that was relatively new and unique to the university/college setting. I was surprised to find out that there are courses offered through the internet at the school in which I am doing my internship. I thought it seemed like a crazy concept, but as the text points out, distance courses are a way for students in smaller (rural) schools to take classes that would not otherwise be available to them. Thus, not only are they able to take a wider variety of classes, but then are able to hone their computer skills and will be that much better prepared upon entering college. Another concept that was interesting to me was the idea of multilevel teaching. In this situation, several students can be using the computers in the classroom while other students are engaged in other activities. This seems like a great way to vary instruction and allows students to work with the material in a more hands-on manner. I believe this would be an excellent opportunity to incorporate peer mentoring, as students who are perhaps struggling with the material could work on the computers with a classmate who has a better grasp of the material. An important quote I took from this module is that “it is important to remember that the role of media tools is to aid student learning, not to teach for you” (307). I think that occasionally teachers rely on media to do the work for them because they believe that the CDs, DVDs, and computer programs that they either receive along with their textbook or from other sources contain the same information they would use if they were to teach their students in a traditional manner. However, it cannot be assumed that students do not still benefit from traditional methods of teaching. We have seen several times throughout this course that each student has their own learning style, learning modality, and learning capability, and for this reason it is important to incorporate a variety of methods and tools to ensure learning is meaningful to each student. On a personal note, I must mention that while I believe technology has made a great impact in education, I believe that its presence has created a large set of difficulties. When I first entered the classroom for my internship experience, I was amazed that the students were listening to iPods and surfing the internet for everything from sports scores to clothing items. Occasionally I would notice a student pull their cell phone out of their pocket to presumably text message. While the policy of the school forbids cell phones, it allows students to use their iPods and the school laptops. I have seen students keep their iPods on with one headphone in while the teacher is teaching. Additionally, the laptops are kept in a movable cart in my field based supervisor’s room and students come and go throughout the day to grab laptops and return them. I believe it’s a large distraction to the students in the classroom. These are issues I can only assume are present in other schools, and while I believe that the school attempts to enact policies that prohibit uses such as these, I think stricter enforcement of the rules is necessary to minimize inappropriate use of technology in the classroom.

Emily Schaefer Module 8 April 18, 2010 It is essential that a teacher utilize many different resources and tools in the classroom to vary instruction and provide diverse learning opportunities. This module presented a variety of different technological tools, although some seemed outdated. (It was strange to see VCRs discussed in the same text as electronic whiteboards.) One dated tool that I had previously dismissed for use in today’s classroom was the overhead projector. But, I think this tool can still be utilized effectively, as it has several strong points. The instructor can face the students while teaching and maintain eye contact. Also, it is easy to use and write on. For example, when I was in my internship classroom, the instructor was using a hand-held device to transfer her writing onto the SmartBoard. When I tried this, it was very difficult to function, especially to write on. One important concept that the module touched on was equipment malfunctions. We’ve all been in a class when the instructor either doesn’t know how to use the equipment or the equipment acts up. This causes the instructor to spend time trying figure out how to use the device, or trying to fix a malfunctioning machine. The time and distraction opens the classroom up to disruption and misbehavior. When I was on internship trying to use the SmartBoard for the first time, there were a few moments when the students had no choice but to sit and watch me stumble with the equipment. Fortunately, they knew it was my first time so they patiently waited and no one acted up. Especially as a new teacher, it will be important for me to know how to use equipment before using it in the classroom. Also it will be necessary to have a non-technological Plan B in case of malfunction. Distance learning will open the classroom up to many once impossible opportunities. Students in very small school districts can link in to larger classrooms to experience a course not available in their own districts. The text notes that, “learning and instruction over the Internet will be the driving force for educational changes in the 21st century…” (p.316). The book also states that the role of the instructor may change from a deliverer of instruction to a facilitator, providing tutoring or working with students in small groups. It is interesting to think about the upcoming changes that we will experience in our future teaching careers. The future is sure to bring about many more technological advances that will further aid instruction and learning in the classroom. It will be imperative for me as an instructor to keep up with new innovations that will be useful in the classroom to keep students engaged and to reach out to diverse learners with different learning styles and capacities.

Module 8 Kevin McKinstry April 20th 2010

There are many different aids that a teacher can use when teaching a class. Aids help students who do not learn from just seeing learn by doing or interacting with an object or expert. This can be done as simply as adding a picture or video to a lesson or as complicated as taking students on a field trip. I am quite partial to the field trip or guest speaker idea. This is because often in history, the subject is thought of as dead and uninteresting. Taking students to a re-enactment or a mock battle would be an excellent way to show the subject in a way they may not have seen it before. Often this helps the students who are struggling in the subject because then they can connect it to a real life situation that they have had. The only problem with field trips is that they are expensive and not all the students may be allowed due to parents to go on the trip. This would put a huge dent into the teaching style because you could not test on the trip it would have to only be used as a supplement to a different lesson. Also before a trip you would have to discuss what types of behavior would be appropriate and what would be expected from the students when they are interacting with either the exhibits or with the individuals presenting during an event. While I believe field trip is a great experience for kids there are other options that are easy to access and affordable for any school. A perfect example of this is exploratory sites on the internet that allow students to access information that may have been before inaccessible to them. This comes in the form of workshops, virtual tours, videos of historic figures, and many other items that are too numerous to mention. While the internet does have great resources at its disposal it also has many faults to it as well. One of the disadvantages of the internet is the fact that it can have material that would not be acceptable in the classroom, and because of this would not be able to be used by the teacher or by the students. Even though the material is terrific it could be on a questionable site, because of this often sites such as youtube, and google are off limits to educators. This can cause some problems but it my belief that if an educator uses their head and makes sure to check and double check all of the sites that they use then it can be used effectively. Along with just being able to provide online materials for lessons the internet can also provide students notes that were presented in class can be available to students who are either sick or unable to make it to school on that day. This helps students stay up to date on the material and make it so that they require less time catching up in the classroom. This helps both the teacher and the student. Because the teacher does not have to waste valuable class time and the student can jump right into the class that they have not been in for awhile and be able to understand that material with only minimal explanation.

Kellen Moser Module 8 Review 04/20/10 I liked the fact that module 8 had so many internet sites that we could go visit as teachers. It is helpful to have all of these different suggestions to go and check out. It is nice to have some sort of guide to helping me as a teacher. I can go check these websites out and decide if I think that my kids will want to use them or not. Maybe my kids won't like some of the websites that are suggested, but it nice to have them anyways. I think that the most helpful part of module 8 had to do with using the community as a resource. I think that bringing in guest speakers and going on field trips can do a lot for a classroom. By bringing in a guest speaker, it changes things up for the kids. They don't have the same person leading them in the classroom. It doesn't matter if your a great teacher or not, I still think it is important to bring in outsiders to keep the classroom fresh. Also, just because I am a teacher doesn't mean I know everything, or close to everything. There are always people outside of the classroom that are more intelligent in certain aspects of what I am trying to teach. It would be nice to bring in someone who has more content-specific knowledge on a subject, especially if it is something that I am weak in. I also like the idea of taking kids on a field trip, but I think that they should be used correctly. I think that teachers sometimes take their kids on field trips for the wrong reasons. Sometimes, I think teachers go on field trips just so they don't have to teach that day. I thik that sometimes teachers can be underprepared, so they take their kids on a field trip. I think that teachers take kids on a field trip just to get them out of the classroom. Field trips should be used to supplement the instruction. You shouldn't take kids to a dinosaur exhibit just because your a science teacher. A trip to a dinosaur exhibit should be used when studying dinosaurs. It could even be done right before learning about them, so that it gets the kids excited about learning about dinosaurs. I also think that distance learning is something that can be exciting. It is a nice way for smaller schools to educate their kids. Some of the gifted kids at smaller schools tend to get ignored. Kids that want to take college classes at smaller schools might not have the opportunity. With recent technology, kids can now take those classes through the internet. I'm glad that the kids at these schools are able to get some of the same advantages as others.

Scott Morrison Module 8

This module was extremelly helpful considering the large-scale technological advances that have taken place in recent years. To be completely honest, I did not know what a Smartboard was until I came USD. I was already out of the technology loop and I have only been out of high school for five years. Technology in the class room has an impressive amount of advantages for teachers. No longer must they rely on the over-head projector. This is even true at USD. I have a a class with a specific instructor two semesters in a row. The first semester he used the projector, but switched all of his notes into PowerPoint presentations this year. Not only is it easier for the professor to portray information, it is easier for the students to see and understand. With technology there are downfalls however. Overuse of such things as PowerPoint and SmartBoard presentations can lead to teacher and student dependance on technology. What happens if a teacher comes to class expecting to give a PowerPoint presentation and his/her computer will not start or the files have been deleted? If that teacher does not have a back-up plan he/she will have essential wasted a class period. Students can easily become dependant on technology as well. If they are used to using computers for everything and then are foced to use paper and pencil for their standardized testing, they will likely score less on the test. There is no doubt that technology is good, but abusing it will cause trouble in the long run. One capability that been advantageous is distance learning. Students can earn dual credits while staying inside the walls of their own schools. Students get instruction from a professor who is teaching college level classes. The tricky part for these instructors is monitoring these students during test time. They have to find a reliable proctor to make sure that these students are not cheating.

Carrie Brooks SEED 400 Module 8 Reflection 22 April 2010 Teachers thank their lucky stars everyday for the resources that are available for their use. Simply by googling a certain subject matter, a teacher can pull up a multitude of instructional ideas and activities. It is difficult to imagine how teachers survived before the dawn of the internet. Beyond the internet, teachers have access to videos, textbook worksheets, and experts in the field. In my Spanish 101 class, I find myself using many of the activities that the textbook suggests to do. Module 8 says that textbooks reign as the number one printed material. Now that many schools have individualized laptops for every student, I imagine that they will attempt to banish the hard copies of textbooks. In my opinion, it is important that students have a hard copy of their textbook in order to flip through the pages, looking for connections among the chapters. Knowledge of the use of computers is also essential for students to obtain. By having them use technology in order to learn, they can hopefully see the benefits of it, beyond simply gaming and chatting with friends on Facebook. Computers provide endless possibilities for the students to learn, and teachers are responsible for demonstrating those opportunities. There are limits, though, as the students may become distracted by other temptations on computers, plus there are copyright limits. Module 8 brings up a good point in that teachers should check with their school’s copyright policy, plus I will refer to p. 302 for the copyright laws. I think that many teachers hardly consider copyright laws, when using materials in an educational manner. With the large variety of media tools available, teachers have more resources than ever. It is important to still use first hand resources, such as field trips and guest speakers, but it is unfortunate that those no longer fit into many school’s monetary budgets nor into the time budgets. Teachers need to make the most of every minute in the classroom, and a variety of instructional resources allow for tremendous efficiency.

Jeff Sebern Module 8 Reflection

Media, aids, and resources for teaching are essential for good content-based education. The content is key for student learning and providing good texts, videos, and methods for applying knowledge learned in those texts, videos, and other sources. This module focuses on all the ways that teachers can use the resources available to best teach their students. Textbooks are the backbone of the sources used to educate, and many other sources are used to supplement the textbook. It is very important to pick out a solid textbook, but it is just as important to supplement the text with interesting, relevant, and current sources that go into greater depth than the textbook. The internet can be a very valuable tool, but teachers must beware of the misconceptions and unworthy sources that can thwart the effectiveness of the internet as a resource. Science teachers can easily find experiments, examples of real-world applications, and very good journal articles about the topics covered in class. Online videos and lesson plans can also be very good tools, but the teacher must always check his/her sources when using internet sources. Using a writing board for announcements and class notes is also an effective tool and caters to students who like to be visually stimulated. Overhead projectors can also be used in many of the same ways, but they cannot be used by students very easily. Videos and DVD’s are also resources that can aid the teacher as well. While videos and DVD’s are also effective tools, they must be previewed by the teacher to make sure they are worthwhile and appropriate. Another resource for teachers is field trips. The use of field trips to show key concepts learned in class and how they relate to the real-world, is one way teachers can motivate students to work harder and feel that education is important. Guest speakers can also be used for many of the same purposes, but guest speakers cannot show the same things a field trip can. In science classes, especially biology, the great outdoors is a great field trip opportunity. Oftentimes it is not difficult to make a short trip somewhere near school and appreciate the natural world. Many other sources are available for teachers to supplement their textbook material. Theses sources should always have a purpose, however, and making sure each source is credible is necessary to keep students from learning incorrect information. On a better note, using multiple sources to provide students with multiple perspectives can be a great start to giving students a complete understanding of the topics covered in class. Using these resources effectively is what sets good teachers apart from the rest.

Tyler Maxwell April 22, 2010 Module 8 Reflection

I really liked this module because it discussed the multiple and vast changes we have made in ways we teach students. I like how it talks about how much it has changed in the last couple thousand years when it has actually changed so drastically in only the last couple of years. With all the advances in modern technology, we as educators have an easier way to relay information to our students. We can teach our students in ways that were probably not even thought to be possible only twenty or thirty years ago. I remember three years ago when I was a senior in high school we used basic overhead projectors and blackboards in our classes. Now we have smart boards in most of our classes, both in high schools and colleges alike. Teachers used to have to print off anything that they wanted us to see in class or copy it onto the projector. Now with the click of a button teachers can pull anything off the internet and students can see it instantly. With all the advancements in modern technology and things available for teacher to use in classrooms, smart boards and things we use today as teaching materials in classrooms will be obsolete. This is why it is important for teachers to have many sources for a professional resources file. We need to have many things we can look back on and depend on as reliable resources even when the things we are using today are no longer up to date. As teachers of the modern day, we have so much more technology to make teaching easier and quicker; however, we still need to stay up to date with advancements in technology so we don’t fall behind in our teaching. I liked to see how far we have come from the ancient times and before written language. I find it crazy to think about how much technology for teaching has changed in the last five to ten years alone. Things we used when we were in high school are now obsolete and we continue to learn to use the new technology which we will use when we get our first teaching jobs. However we need to understand that in ten years, the technology we use today will be obsolete as well.

Alisha Limoges Module 8 Technology keeps getting better and better as each year passes and with that, students are able to learn at levels that their parents never had access to. Part of bringing technology into your classroom is that students who do not learn through traditional lecture are able to be engaged by other means. Students can use electronic resources and essentially work more hands-on with projects and lessons. We didn’t have an extreme amount of technology in my high school; we had no smart boards, laptops per students, or classes online. However, we did have the opportunity to work on the science on the move bus and get a feel for working in an actual lab. Sure we had lab rooms in all of our sciences rooms, but getting out of the classroom and getting on a bus made it feel more authentic. This was in part because we were expected to come up with our own lab and find out what materials we would need to complete the lab. Our teacher was present for safety reasons, but we were essentially on our own as far as asking questions and finding our own answers. This impacted my view on Advanced Chemistry more than sitting in the classroom and working on questions in our book after we had an in class lecture. We also were able to be connected to students from other schools and teachers miles away through our DDN system. I took Astronomy my senior year and was the only student interested in taking that class at seven in the morning. The class was exciting not just because of the material that we were covering but because I was in a classroom by myself interacting with people from other classrooms via DDN. It also allowed me to work at a pace that was best for me, which meant that I was able to complete the course early and get the credits I needed. Other classes that allowed me to do this were Spanish III where I completed the course as an independent study. Because I was working on this class by myself, I got to use outside resources to help me understand the material and complete the course with a better understanding then when I entered. Technology is not making us a more unconnected society; it is allowing us to be more connected then even. This means that our students can learn more within a smaller amount of time.

Rita Buschbacher Module 9 4/22/10 After reading through this module, I feel like I found half of the material very useful and the other half not as useful. The information I enjoyed the most was the section of professional journals. I know a lot of these require subscriptions to get but I think they are worth it. My mom is a Special Ed, EI teacher, and she has always told me to get involved with professional journals. I also like the ERIC information network. I can imagine that it has a lot of resources for math teachers. I am trying to broaden my knowledge and strategies to make math more interesting for middle school students, since that is what I plan on teaching. I would like to involve guest speakers in the classroom as well. If I could find mathematicians or researchers, female and male, to come in and talk about math and what it can do for your life, I think that it would impact the students. I know that I am supposed to instill the love of mathematics in children, but I think I need all the backup I can get will be good. Items in the module like the CD-Rom, over head projector, and just the general use of computers I didn’t find useful. Ever since coming to USD, I see that the overhead projector being taken over by the Smart board. I also am fairly skilled on the computer, so I didn’t find this section valuable. BUT that doesn’t mean I didn’t find it interesting. I find modules like this represent the little things that teachers don’t think about, so it is good that they address them. One thing that I found confusing, and would like a support lecture on, was the section about printing copyrighted materials. I don’t really understand the reasoning on why you can’t copy the same work every year. Would if I want to use the same worksheet every year? If I give credit or keep the copyright on the paper, is that okay? I just need some clarifying information to make sure I don’t accidently get myself into trouble with copyrighting.

Josh Freier Module 8 4/22/10 Module 8 deals different media aids to use in the classroom. But, I have to admit, many of them seemed sort of skimpy or too well-known. Sections devoted to the chalkboard or the overhead projector, although having some useful information, seemed a little more common-sense. It expected a lot more on the Internet and other computer technologies, but I suppose, with the speed at which technology is developing, the book may even be a little behind (DVDs are not exactly “newly emerging technology”). I think technology has enormous potential to help in classroom, especially with reaching different learning styles and modalities, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to. My experience in high school is that too many times, a teach will use a piece of technology to teach the class for him. Especially in history, there have been many times where we have watched a video about a subject, and that was the lesson. Now, I might have been interested and learning from the video, but I doubt everyone was. And if there’s no discussion on what the students are supposed to be looking for, or what they were supposed to have learned, I think the video’s really nothing more than a good way to waste time. On the other hand, though, videos give a visual and audio immersion of the things you’re talking about. Students can see and hear what you’re trying to get across to them, and if the video is incorporated into the lesson, instead of becoming a replacement for it, then it can be a good supplement. I liked the discussion this module gives to guest speakers and field trips. As students, I think we sort of thought as these things as simple: you just call up a speaker and he comes and talks; you find a place to go to, and take your students there. But there are a lot of formalities to go through, legal issues to be aware, and, most importantly, as a teacher doing these things, I need to make sure they’re actually advancing the student’s learning. I’m not sure all of the things we went to in high school did. And, if they did, many times they were completely isolated events. You went to a Shakespeare play, but then never spoke of it again. Just like technology, supplemental things like this need to be integrated into a lesson, or else their just a time waster that may or may not be educational. I think the Internet is becoming a huge part of education. Of course there are problems making sure students are actually doing work on them, but then again, students can just as easily doodle on a notebook rather than take notes. The Internet provides ways of interaction between students that haven’t been available before. In a Reacting to the Past class I’m taking right now, between each session, students will post writings up on D2L. Primary documents need to be used, and convincing arguments have to be made to get points. But what makes it really interesting is that, because it’s on D2L, all of the students view everyone’s posts. You reply to someone’s argument, making your own, they reply back, arguments can—and from what I’ve experienced do—fire up. It’s a very interesting way of learning topics with nearly no teacher involvement at all. Distance learning is also interesting and important, especially in South Dakota. With so many small schools that are so far apart, it’s helpful to have a way to connect them, so that a teacher from one school can teach a subject to outside schools. In high school, our Spanish classes were distance classes, and there were three different schools involved. Though there could be the occasional technical problem, it worked nearly as well as having the teacher there in the classroom.

Amber Hegge SEED 400 I thought this chapter was very beneficial to a future teacher. Although the chapter included a lot of great information on technology and resources, one thing I took away from the chapter is that one can never stop learning when it comes to technology. It isn’t something you can learn once in college, and then not try to learn about again. In order to stay on the cutting edge one must keep up to date on the newest advancements. Especially in today’s day and age in which young people are more and more technology savvy, it is important to try and stay ahead of the curve. I think that if you don’t know how to use media it can make you look incompetent and students may not think of you as credibly. For example, when I was at USD, in a freshman health class I witnessed a professor trying to use an overhead projector. He obviously didn’t recall the tips in this book such as facing the class, and putting the pencil on the projector to point out highlights so as not to distract from the class. One tip he missed was that he didn’t realize you had to have a transparency in order for the words to show up. He thought that just placing a textbook on the overhead would make the words appear, and instead all that was projected was a sheet of black. He kept looking from the overhead, to the class, while every one hysterically laughed. He then proceeded to call off class. Everyone makes mistakes which is fine, but understanding technology before attempting to use it is a good idea. As a math instructor I think teachers sometimes get a little bit too set in their ways. Often times they repeat the same routine over and over. They teach, students take notes, and then complete assignments quizzes and tests. I think students especially trying to understand new concepts would benefit greatly from using different forms of media and instructional aids. If for no other reason just to refresh their enthusiasm in regards to a topic. For example in high school I really enjoyed in my Calc class, when we had assignments involving MAPLE and graphing on a computer. Rather than the teacher just manipulating functions on the board, it was fun to use the media to help clarify the ideas in our mind. I think if a teacher has the opportunity to use an technological resource, it should be done. For example I shadow a few classes at Elk Point High School. The high school students there are each issued a tablet PC. The teacher I am shadowing uses this tool often. She has notes typed out for the students with spaces for them to write in on their computer. This is a vital tool for the students. She can link up their PCs when they are in the room, saving on class time for them drawing diagrams and also saving paper. They can use their own notebook paper for notes if they would like to. Also if a student misses a day, another student can e-mail them the notes that they took in the class. When students are absent for athletic events this is very beneficial. The students say that in other classrooms however teachers don’t utilize their computers as much as in the classroom I am shadowing. I think it is vital for teachers to try and utilize all resources given to them in order to find the best way to get students to learn, and that was evident when reading this chapter.

Andy Cahalan Module 8

Module 8 talks about media, aids, and resources. There are so many resources available to teachers nowadays. It is really important to utilize all of the resources that are available. The internet is a great resource. The information that is available now is more than any other generations have ever been able to access. There are many websites that offer aids and resources to teachers. Some that I have encountered include Teachertube.com, Edsitement.gov, and more. These websited have excellent suggestions for lessons and activities. It is important to knw how to use these new forms of technology. If you dont, then using them could actually get in the way of teaching your students. Also, you need to have a purpose for using them. One thing my Field based supervisor said that made a lot of sense was that teachers shouldnt use technology just for the sake of using it. It has to have a purpose and it has to help students understanding of what they are studying. It is not beneficial to use technology if it isnt directly helping the students.