1. What are your favorite tools you now have in your personal technology toolbox? Briefly describe a particular activity that you will plan for your students using at least one of these new tools.
My favorite part was the photo story and the iPod touch because you can view images and can watch videos and pictures as many times as necessary. Most of the students learn more easily when they see colors and moving objects. I will create lessons where my kids learn how to take pictures or videos to use later in projects or lesson and then post it online to use as a review or referral. I will use in my class the ipod to download applications for math and science where students can have an independent practice to review concepts learned in class. The ipod can be used in centers were students can review concepts like for example download a digital puzzle to practice their states, capitols, and cities of the USA. For the math subject they can practice their multiplication, division, and addition facts. For Science they can download Science videos, and for reading they can hear online stories and use the voice recorder to maybe summarize or tell reflections. These are only some of the few examples of many other applications that teachers can use in their classroom.
2. How have you transformed your thinking about the learning that will take place in your classroom?
I worked a lot on this project and I invested a lot of my time because I grew up and I was educated during a time that technology was not much involved, but in the end it was worth the effort because I learned so much. As a mother of three kids that used technology all the time I believe it’s important to learn because technology is very useful as other ways of communication and learning. I will be able to answer questions and give immediate feedback to parents instead of waiting to set up a face to face conference. This project forced me to learn so much and every time that I was learning something new I was amazed at how many tools are available to use for educators at no cost.
3. Were there any unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
It surprises me that learning can be challenging but also can be fun and interesting to do. With this program now I have more tools to motivate my students to want to learn and love school even more. There were many times were I was very frustrated that I did not know much about technology and asked others for help, but it made me reflect that cooperation and persistence is part of the learning even for us educators. I am very visual and I definitely do learn better if someone shows me how to do it. I will take my baby steps to implement some of the learning from this program but I believe that practice and implementation is necessary for students to move into the new technological era.
My favorite part was the photo story and the iPod touch because you can view images and can watch videos and pictures as many times as necessary. Most of the students learn more easily when they see colors and moving objects. I will create lessons where my kids learn how to take pictures or videos to use later in projects or lesson and then post it online to use as a review or referral. I will use in my class the ipod to download applications for math and science where students can have an independent practice to review concepts learned in class. The ipod can be used in centers were students can review concepts like for example download a digital puzzle to practice their states, capitols, and cities of the USA. For the math subject they can practice their multiplication, division, and addition facts. For Science they can download Science videos, and for reading they can hear online stories and use the voice recorder to maybe summarize or tell reflections. These are only some of the few examples of many other applications that teachers can use in their classroom.
2. How have you transformed your thinking about the learning that will take place in your classroom?
I worked a lot on this project and I invested a lot of my time because I grew up and I was educated during a time that technology was not much involved, but in the end it was worth the effort because I learned so much. As a mother of three kids that used technology all the time I believe it’s important to learn because technology is very useful as other ways of communication and learning. I will be able to answer questions and give immediate feedback to parents instead of waiting to set up a face to face conference. This project forced me to learn so much and every time that I was learning something new I was amazed at how many tools are available to use for educators at no cost.
3. Were there any unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
It surprises me that learning can be challenging but also can be fun and interesting to do. With this program now I have more tools to motivate my students to want to learn and love school even more. There were many times were I was very frustrated that I did not know much about technology and asked others for help, but it made me reflect that cooperation and persistence is part of the learning even for us educators. I am very visual and I definitely do learn better if someone shows me how to do it. I will take my baby steps to implement some of the learning from this program but I believe that practice and implementation is necessary for students to move into the new technological era.
