Chapter 5 Response

Technology can really be a benefit in the classroom when it comes to building and using models. Students can make external models using Mindtools such as, concept maps, spreadsheets, microworlds, discussion boards, and visualization to connect students learning.

Modeling knowledge with concept maps is a great idea in the classroom. I will be able to use computer based tools and programs such as Stella, VenSim, and PowerSim to help learners build simulations of a system. These are greatly effective when the simulation involves components that have an effect on other components in the system. A great example of this is the human body and the food chain. If one component of the simulation were to change it would in turn have an affect on the other components in the system. Marissa showed use a simulation with the exact purpose involving wolves, rabbits, and grass. As a side note, I probably would not use Stella in an elementary classroom. Having students create their own concept map simulations is a great tool to implement because it creates a meaningful learning experience. I believe that the real world examples such a the rabbit, wolf, and grass will help students visualize that each component depends on another and that with one change others will follow as a result. Spreadsheets main purpose is to store, calculate, and present information. Spreadsheets are a great example of a Mindtool that reorganizes mental functioning. This would be great to use in the classroom after students have already been taught how to do the calculations themselves. It would save time and energy and allow students to see a larger picture of understanding instead of just the calculations to get through the big picture.

Expert systems are systems that are designed to make decisions for all sorts of problems. An example of this is MYCIN which helps diagnose bacteria infections. This system works like any real expert would - it analyzes the expert information it has and comes to a conclusion that best solves the question. When students engage themselves into becoming an expert on a topic it ususally includes deeper level thinking. In my classroom I might use this to get students to achieve this deeper level thinking and to reflect on their models.

One thing that I will definatly be utilyzing in my classroom is a database. Databases will help me keep track of my students records, my lesson plans, and other information. Databases will help me stay organized virtually and spaticialy. My students will likewise learn how to effectivly use databases to keep track of information and different subjects. One subject it may be nice to utilize a database in would be writing. My students could write pieces and have them all under the umbrella "writing." My students would then have their pieces under non-fction or fiction and then listed by date so that the students can see the progress they have made throughout writing.

Using technology based models in classrooms keep students engaged in learning. Student engagement is a fundamental aspect of learning that I want all of my students to have. Students are engaged because they are cognitivly constructing their own theories; making their own representations of a system; going through a system of hypothesis, testing, inferring, etc.; constructing the model; and motivation of learning.

Chapter 4 Response

Writing is an everyday occurrence in elementary classrooms. Technology can enhance writing concepts and practices in many ways with concept maps, supports in how to present writing, supporting creative and collaborative writing, and peer reviews.

Concept maps require students to make a visual map between ideas. They help students identify important ideas, points, and concepts and help students visualize how they relate to other topics. While these maps can be drawn by hand, there is software that produces concept maps which are easier to read and to understand. As a teacher, having these concept maps can help with the formation or agenda relating to a lesson or the daily class schedule. The books example from Semantica seems like a handy teacher resource that can be utilized and also taught to the students to use easily. Using the concept maps will help students organize the information. Students should first identify important and main concepts and apply that/those concepts to a map that is fitting. For meaningful learning, students should generate their own maps for better understanding of what they will write as well as what they are doing and learning by creating the concept map.

PowerPoint is a tool that is used very frequently by educators. Having students create their own presentations with PowerPoint is more beneficial because it will allow students to learn the software and be able to create future presentations in a professional manner. With the positive effects of PowerPoint there are also negative aspects to it. PowerPoint stresses visual aids more so than the content. I think I will include PowerPoint in my classroom as a teacher and may introduce it to my students, depending on the grade I teach. If my students do use PowerPoint I will provide guidance with what they need to include in the presentation.

Technology can motivate students to write. One teacher had her students write a final chapter to a book they had read, The Pigman. This teacher used a book they were reading and incorporated it into writing and technology through having the students post it to the internet. I really like the idea of students coming up with their own endings – it inspires creative writing and the learning that is taking place is meaningful because students are able to interact with technology which is something most are motivated by. Other websites (scholastic.com, kidscribe.org, and poetryforge.org) provide outlets for students to have their writings “published.” When students have their work published it gives them more purpose and drive to write well. I will have my students go through a publishing system throughout the school year. I envision having a book that is published for the class with each student getting a copy. I also want my students to write their own books that will be theirs to keep. I further more believe that most writings should be published in some way to promote the love of writing. Technology is a fantastic outlet for students to use to publish their pieces.

Collaborative writing involves students bringing their own ideas to the ‘table’ and collaborating to create a piece of writing. I love the idea of having students collaborate in the classroom. Students should be assigned different roles to have a cohesive collaboration. Technology can be great in regards to collaboration because students can communicate through e-mails, chats, and instant messaging. Students can use the internet to help with brainstorming, exchange documents, and all the steps in between through finalizing the documents.

Peer editing is an incredibly important stage in the writing process. Multiple drafts are necessary in writing and having papers or projects on the computer lets students refer back to previous copies of the final document. With this students can see the progress they made throughout the process. I can see myself using SWoRD in my future classroom. Students can read, review, and respond in a confidential manner.

Chapter 3 Response

I wish that when I was in Elementary school I had something as neat as a 'Microworld.' I think it is really interesting that it captures learners attention and is created by learners. I like that this tool is an object to think with and not an object that thinks for the students. After reading, I believe that I would not actually use logo, but I would use a similar version, such as ThinkerTools, that is easier to maneuver. I would choose a simpler version so that my students could easily explore, manipulates, and experiment in the virtual environment. This would help create higher order thinking in the classroom. When discussing different subjects in the classroom I can see utilizing the interactive physics and simcalc microworld's. Both seem extremely beneficial in the classroom.

Simulations are imitations of a real concept or thing. This enables learners to see how a system works. I can see myself using simulations in my classroom. I can see using them in science the most. Science experiments can be recreated through simulations. I can see using simulations in weather systems, discussions about atoms, body circulation, among other scientific topics.
I had not realized that SimCity was a simulator. It makes sense, but I had not connected the two until my reading. SimCity can be creatively used in regards to social networking, and civics subjects.

I think that games are fantastic to incorporate into the everyday classroom. Educational games can be included in lessons as a support and refresher for students. Students can have fun by playing these games while reinforcing the material previously taught by the teacher. I think it is interesting that there are multiple principles for games on the computer (active, semiotic, committed learning, identity, etc).

Quest Atlantis! In one of my previous volunteer sites, the classroom teacher had Quest Atlantis. She loved it. I did not have much interaction with it but all of the students really looked forward to working on it. Students got to work on them on their own once they had completed a task in the classroom. I think this one in particular is really great because it discusses topics that are needing to be talked about (nutrition, diversity).

Chapter 2 Response

I think that it is interesting how educators think that having students search for information on the web will help students make sense of the information they find when research tells us that a student finding the predetermined answers does not help with comprehension and reflection on the subject. This bit of information I had not really thought about until I read this. I remember in my personal experience that when I have searched for answers I usually was not engaged in the activity and only looking for the answers. Students need to know what, why and where they are looking for information, what it is going to be applied towards, and knowing how to evaluate the source of information. Places to search are not always through Google or yahoo. Students can search through EBSCO, ERIC, and FindArticles (Invisible Web). Evaluating a website is vital; make sure students ask if the website is relevant and if it is a creditable source. The follow up assignments that correspond to the research I did on the activity in a few cases usually helps bridge the meaningless facts into me applying that information to a larger picture. I want to make my future students apply what they find on the internet into other assignments.

I found out that open ended refers to students finding out as much information as they can about a topic and that teachers generally use this method so students can learn different strategies to determine what information is important to them that pertains to the topic. The GAP method was very interesting to read about. I have been doing this since high school without having a student created webquest. I wish I had been able to create one of these in the past because it would have furthered my technology experiences, but also let me have a better understanding of the material I was gathering, and would have lead to better comprehension and grouping of the material.

Side Note: There should defiantly be a “WISE” learning environment for grade K-5 because children are younger when beginning to use the computer now. If we expose them to this great resource maybe science could become a stronger and more focused on subject; the younger the exposure the better chance at having more successful students in the subject.

Mobile technologies are becoming a greater tool for each student having personal access to new learning resources. Motivation, ease of instruction, and organization are just a few benefits to using mobile technologies. I can see myself using some sort of mobile technology in my future classroom. I probably would not use a handheld device, such as a cell phone, because I personally do not use my cell phone now. I think using a handheld could also be a battle with older kids because they might not be able to use their phones because of school policy. However, different applications for handhelds are fantastic benefits towards using one in class. I can see myself using my phone to connect to the computer projected on the board so that I may walk around the room freely and not need to be glued to the computer. Mobile technologies such as Water Analysis, Arbor day exploration, NatureMapping and other programs. My favorite program explained was the Arbor Day one. I think it si great because it is helping the Earth, students are participating in that, they are using the technology to measure and obtain pictures and can then analyze it in the classroom or in a car on their way home. It is something they can continue to check on and not just in the classroom.

I like survey monkey, after taking our syllabus quiz with it I got to mess around with it later on my own. It is a very useful tool and resource for any classroom.

Growing Up Online Response

1. What's your opinion of the impact of the Internet on kids?
I think that the impact of the internet on children has pros and cons. I think that it is great because students today have an endless supply of information just at their fingertips. At the same time though, I think that it is potentially dangerous to the students because of predators and students alternate personas established in the internet world. I think that if children and adolescents use the internet it should be closely monitored and stressed that the internet is not a toy and that nothing does get “deleted.”

2. As a future teacher, do you worry about it?
Yes I do. Ideally, I do not want my future students in any sort of trouble. Ideally, I would love to let my future students live in a world where there was no internet and they could just innocently play outside and not worry about blackberry’s or what someone’s status.

Do you have a personal Internet-related story to share?
Nope. My parents always monitored my computer usage and I have always been a slow learner with new technologies.

Chapter 1 Response

After reading the chapter, use the guiding questions below to craft a reflection on the reading. Provide your reflection on your personal learning log.

1. What is your first impression of this textbook based on reading the preface and first chapter?
   
   I had a very good first impression with this book. I agree that if teachers are not adapting to new technology then students will also not learn the new technology. I think that this book focuses on the students learning and how teachers will adapt through time to ensure that their students will continue to learn new technologies through experience and exposure with the teachers choice to use technology.
   
   
2. Jonassen identifies 5 characteristics of meaningful learning. How do these 5 characteristics compare with your own understanding of what meaningful learning is?
   
   I would have to agree with Jonassen’s five characteristics of meaningful learning. I believe that meaningful learning includes students collaborating with peers and teachers to learn and teach each other, that students should know why they are learning what they are being taught so they can have a broad view of the topic, that each of the students are working towards group and individual goals at all times, reflection on what has been learned, and adaptation to new ideas and skills.
   
   
3. As a student you have observed the teaching process for more than 15 years. Some authors refer to this as an apprenticeship of observation. Reflecting back as a K-12 and college student, how have you seen technology used as teaching and learning tool?
   
   I remember the first time I used a PowerPoint. I was in high school and that was the first time that I was able to get my hands on technology in the classroom. Our teacher gave us a tutorial and assisted with finding special features as we worked on it. I was very excited to be using something I had seen all of my teachers use to instruct us. From that point on, in that class, we used PowerPoint’s for presentations and learned more PowerPoint features as we became more experienced.
   
   
4. In your own words, what is the difference between ‘learning from technology’ and ‘learning with technology’?
   
   Learning from technology is when schooling happens with a smart board, computer, or other technology acts as the “teacher” and the students learn from that. Learning with technology is when students can use technology as an aid to help facilitate learning. With this students can be engaged.