Tasks
Before Apps- Chapter 2
This chapter is one that involves students
being creators of their own work. When
students are given the opportunity to learn new material through hands-on
learning they are proud, ambitious and take ownership. Exploring using technology opens doors in
many other content areas helping students to make connections in and out of the
classroom. For example, the chapter
mentions transferrable skills, which can be applied out of school, through multi-subjects
and across disciplines. Being a student who learns best through hands
on learning I appreciate when professors incorporate technology in my class. The first grade class I am student teaching in
incorporates ipads during a reading lesson for differentiation, which is a big
help, and change for those struggling to read.
When students have to share their work, teacher take pictures and pull
it up on the smart board for the entire class to see. The students used their personal image to
explain their work and feel proud. The
chapter also gives a great example of how students explore communities by
taking a walk. By bringing the ipad they
can take pictures of what they see and when returning to class can pull the
pictures up and use them for discussion, create a collage or record what they
see. With the incorporation of
technology it is important for teachers to choose the product to use, support
the creation process, allocate the right amount of time, assess/check in,
monitor, provide clarity and make adjustments when necessary.
Transforming
Learning With New Technologies- Chapter 3
This chapter is similar to Tasks Before Apps in
which it speaks about how teachers can use technology to create floor plans and
to grade tests. What stood out to me
first was Gliffy. This is a web-based
program that teachers can utilize to create seating arrangements for students,
diagrams of specific subjects, flowcharts and a variety of displays that can be
hung up in the room. For a new teacher
this is a great site that will help in the set-up of the classroom and is free
which is a plus when you’re just getting started. Next, is the electronic grading
software. This record keeping system is
a computer program that allows teachers to calculate and record the grades
students receive on exams. It also
calculates the students overall grade, for example, all of the students work:
homework, tests, class participation etc.
This allots more time for teachers to focus their attention on other
things and can quickly produce the performance of an individual or whole class. These are great sites that can make teaching
that more easier.
I wish that the placement I am student teaching at used technology like your school. We have iPads and a SMARTboard, but it is just surface technology. I feel it is a great idea that your teacher takes pictures of student work and posts it on the board for the entire class to see. Not only does that provide an accountably aspect to student work - that you must do you work because it may be posted on the board - but it also showcases student work and like you said, makes them feel proud and allows them to take ownership. I LOVE this so much that I am going to make a note and employ that in my future classroom!
ReplyDeleteHey Kristine,
ReplyDeleteGreat post, and I completely agree with what you said regarding the benefits of electronic grading software. I remember when I was in high school and had to wait days upon days, sometimes even weeks, in order to receive our grades on exams, essays, and even simple homework assignments. I remember my teachers saying things like "Your tests are marked but they still need to be recorded" or "I'll give you your averages for this marking period once I'm able to get them calculated." Modern technology, such as the grading software that you mentioned, helps eliminate a lot of this hassle that teachers used to have to deal with. By using this technology, teachers are able to use their time more efficiently, not by grading student work, but rather by spending more time preparing their lessons and making sure students are grasp the material.