Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Internet Safety Reflection

Reading
I read "Let Our Voices Be Heard" by M. Russell Ballard.

Watching
I watched the video called "Katies Story" about a young girl who encountered a predator online.

Write a paragraph describing what your most important "take-aways" were from the readings and video?
The thing about the article that stuck out to me the most and that surprised me the most was when it was written. It was only written in 2003 and it is amazing how much worse our world has become since then. It is so important for us to be prepared for our world to get even worse. I think it is so important that as I prepare to have a family that I am making sure to decipher what is good and what is evil in the media. I should be aware of the effects it can have on my spiritual growth and the spiritual growth of my family.I need to make sure that I am doing everything I can to sift through the bad media and use it for its righteous uses and avoid its destructive uses.

I thought the most interesting thing about the video was the method they used to help their daughter who was talking to an online predator. They made her play a game with them that taught about protecting yourself from the dangers of the internet. I thought it was interesting that the girl was able to interact with her family and because of their healthy interactions she was able to see the seriousness of her situation. A strong family support system is so important.

Doing
I talked to a friend about what they knew about internet safety. He said he knew that it was important to not put any personal information on the computer and that you shouldn't put any details about where you live. He said he knew the importance of not talking to people you don't know. I told him Katies story and he just thought that the girl in the story was really silly and made really unwise decisions. He thought her mistakes were very apparent and that if he were her father we would have handled the situation very differently. He said that he would make sure to tell his daughter that her relationship with his guy wasn't OK and that she wasn't allowed to talk to him. I think now that I have brought this story to his attention he will know the importance he will have one day as a father to protect his children from predators. I think it is a good idea to share these kind of stories with people so that they are reminded of the realness of the situation.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

PLE Post Week 12

From watching these videos of different classrooms using technology I have been able to learn a couple of different reasons for the importance of technology when teaching young children. I think that the most important thing when it comes to teaching young children is to keep them interested. I think that since young kids have a hard time focusing on something for long periods of time it is so important to make sure that as a teacher, I am always keeping them focused on the subject. I have learned from these videos that as they are learning about one subject they continue to remain interested in it because they are using all types of technology and activities within the subject. They are able to remain excited because the teacher isn't keeping it mundane but is constantly switching up the different technologies and activities. From watching these videos I have learned that it may be a good idea to use different technologies for the different parts of the subject. It is ok to use the same subject so that the kids do understand what I am teaching, but is also ok to use different technologies while teaching that subject.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Week 9 PLE Post

What are some ways you can tell that you have successfully integrated technology into your lesson?

I think you can tell if technology is successfully integrated into your lessons if the students understand the technology and its specific use for the class. The student doesn't necessarily need to know how to use the technology perfectly because that barely happens but if the students understand what they are learning and the role that the technology plays in their education then the technology was integrated well.

What do you feel technology should accomplish in order to be a legitimate addition to your lesson?

I think the technology should not be the center of the lesson, unless it is the topic for the class, but should be the aid in teaching the students. If the technology is helping the students and enriching the environment of the classroom and enriching their education then it is accomplishing its purpose and is a legitimate addition to the lesson.

What indicators can tell you whether or not you have chosen an appropriate technology for your lesson?

If the students are learning the curriculum and the technology is nor interfering with their education then it is appropriate. If the students aren't being distracted but are able to use the technology to their advantage and they can use it to their advantage then it is definitely appropriate.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

TPACK

What are some of the problems with learning TPACK skills?

Some of the problems it seems is that everything being taught is very dependent on how each of the students learn. It is very important to remember that every child and every group of children will learn differently. If trying to teach something that is based to student-content learning needs then it must apply to each of the different students. It also seems like the ideas are pretty complex and not well thought out yet.

What is the main idea of the article?

The main idea of the article is to try and restructure the way classrooms are being taught by integrating technology into the lesson plans. This approach has been used for websites, educational films, and online courses.

What are some of the ideas in the article that led you to your main idea?

The first main paragraph that described what the idea was and how they have tried to use it.

What are some reasons that this article might be important for you as a teacher

It is important to know what kinds of new teaching strategies are being thought of while I am studying to be a teacher so that I am aware. It is good to be aware of new ideas so that I can progress and learn as an educator. I must continually push myself and learn new things so that I can become a better, more well-rounded teacher. It is also important in this day and age because we are constantly changing the way we teach and learn as our technology advances.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Virtual Fieldtrip

Field Trip "Table"

Field Trip Table
Location

Activity Description

Google Earth content
(what layer, tool, content
within Google Earth will you use)
1. Amazon Rainforest

Matching game: match the animal with their habitat. Then, pick and draw favorite animal. Cut into puzzle pieces, and exchange with partner.

L: Weather, Places of Interest

C: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyIyVsRo-qU



2. Nunavut

Create an informative postcard, including fun facts about Nunavut. Write to a friend describing your trip.

L: Weather, 3-D Buildings, Places of Interest

C:



3. Atacama Desert

Survivor- Make a list of 10 items they need to survive. Write-up about why these items would be necessary (i.e. how the items would be used, etc.)

L: Weather, Places of Interest

C: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLN5uz42005



4. Great Barrier Reef

Vacation Time! Create an itinerary for a 2-day vacation here. Craft an advertisement for souvenirs found in nature.

L: Weather, Ocean, Places of Interest

C:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbNeIn3vVKM