Sample Reflection
For each chapter
write an informal 200-300 word reflection focusing on what you learned
and a 25 word reflection on each visited Web site. Do not summarize the
chapter, instead discuss new ideas and significant insights and how the
information can be used to support classroom integration of technology. Also
reflect on your personal reaction to reading the chapter and the supplemental
information provided with this module.
Type your reflections single space
with an extra line between paragraphs. Send this reflection in the body of an
e-mail message (not as an e-mail attachment ) to your instructor on or
before
In Chapter One: Introduction to Using Computers in Education I have been refreshed on much computer terminology. I also have come to understand that in order to keep up with the computer world I must have this computer literacy or understanding of computers and their uses. Throughout my college experience and buying a car and other high priced items, have been using information literacy. I know how to find and use information. For example, it is much easier and more efficient to search at home before heading out from dealership to dealership unsure of what you are looking for in a car. With information literacy, you can search right at home with the internet to locate potential features you might want in a car and then go to a dealership with a more focused approach.
I believe as an educator, integration literacy is essential for the children and can save a teacher time, energy, and make them able to incorporate more real authentic learning. When a teacher can find appropriate technology to go along or match objectives being taught, then they are using their integration literacy. I have done some integration, mainly in the language arts and social studies areas. For example, I had found an online student unit on a book we read together as a class. After every 3 chapters there was an assignment for the students. The students used a mobile lab of laptops and were paired up with partners. They worked on the assignment together after each of the chapter selections. The assignments ranged from writing assignments to using the Kid’s Almanac on the Internet. This allowed the students to learn not only how to browse the Internet, but to become familiar with the many sources of information they can also find. They also learned of the many fun student activities that go along with what we are learning in class. They learned to bookmark favorite websites, and got to practice their writing skills in word processing, and tested out how to insert data to make graphs. I found that by integrating technology, the students became more motivated about their schoolwork and were able to connect what they were learning with their own personal lives.
As I learn more about integrating technology into the classroom I have learned that I must continuously reflect on how I can use my new knowledge in three ways: For my own professional development, using technology as a productivity tool in my classroom and extensively integrating technology in my teaching, lessons, student-based projects, and student assessments to improve student learning. Engaging in this is called curriculum-specific or discipline-specific learning. I look forward to finding more about curriculum specific content that I can use in my classroom. Being a 4th grade classroom teacher, sometimes I get nervous that I am not spending enough time on proficiency practice or proficiency objectives. But if I could find curriculum specific information and ideas on how to use it in the classroom, then I could be focusing in on proficiency objectives at the same time motivating students by using technology.
By knowing and understanding what a computer is, what it does, and the components of a computer I am/will be more able to teach to the students in my class. I will also be able to order the appropriate software, be more apt to problem solve when there are computer errors, and know of the many different tasks a computer is able to perform.
Teaching Today:
In this section I went to #4. which
featured a discussion regarding K-12
textbook publishers who have begun to enhance their books with content-related
Internet and World Wide Web products and services. .I visited the websites of
several publishers: (Pearson
Education , McGraw-Hill
, and Prentice-Hall
. I know that I will want to go back to these
publisher’s sites when I find out which textbooks I will be using as a
teacher.
Education Issues: I went to #1 School Violence. Here I went to various links http://www.juvjus.state.nc.us/cpsv/ and explored the site for the Center for the Prevention of School Violence. This site told about early warning signs of students who may become violent. There is counseling available and many organizations that are fighting for the limited counseling at schools to become more readily available.
Integration Corner: I loved this! I went to the elementary corner and discovered this incredible Crayola site at http://www.crayola.com/educators/index.cfm
There were so many sections on crafts and coloring activities. This site also has lesson plans!! I kept exploring the links for other sites in the elementary area. I think I will have no trouble finding my 50 websites to use for my Technology ToolKit. This textbook web site is going to be an incredible resource.