my ed205 class

Q:Describe your own plan for professional development with regard to technology…..
I guess how I plan to continue my professional development with regards to technology depends largely on what and where I will teach. Rather, the level of students I end up teaching. I will, God willing, be certified elementary regular education and special education. My experiences with special education (almost all have been with severe to moderately impaired) is that, the classrooms and students are all very low technology. The teachers might use the computer to communicate with parents; however this is limited to the ability of the parents. Also I have seen teachers use the computer to seek out ideas or for clip art but not as an interactive tool with the students. I would have to agree to this given my limited knowledge about lower functioning special education rooms. However if I taught in a resource room I could see using a computer as a direct tool and valuable resource. In my opinion if the technology is being used and/or a use is necessary or beneficial than it is the duty of the facilitator to stay up on how and why to use it. I enjoy taking classes or seminars on new things or ideas. I looked up the Kent county ISD web sight where it tells about upcoming trainings available. There were several I would be interested in taking and could gain something out of attending. I hope this will still be the case in a few years. I also think conversation with other educators such as the class discussion board we have, would be a great way to see what other people are doing. I know there are great journals and other resource out there to help keep me in the know. At this point in my life I really do not have anymore time for extra reading. However when I am teaching and my students are my job, I feel it will be my job to keep up on any new and possibly better ways to teach.
If I end up teaching lower elementary, the need to stay up on the latest ways to use the various forms of technology will be a must. In today’s society if you do not give students, even the younger ones, the skills necessary to make it in this high tech world you are failing them. Besides my opinion is that a computers provide “hands on” activities that in turn solidifies learning in a way traditional teaching cannot do. Once again if as a teacher I do not stay on top of things I am doing a disservice to my students. I would like to think that some day I could pick and chose the school I accept a job from, based on their priority to technology. But right now in my life I will just be happy to have a job. So I guess it would be irresponsible to say I could or would lean on my district to teach me or provide the teaching of the latest technology out there. But it would be nice.

I am evaluating a web page regarding Martina Luther King Jr. with the URL: http://www.martinlutherking.org/. The questions are:
1. Is the author identified? No it does not state an author. It does state it is “hosted by Stormfront”.
2. Are credentials listed? Nothing is sighted. In fact it seems as if all the information goes against all the normal accepted information regarding this subject.
3. Affiliation: Yes it is affiliated with “Stormfront” a White Nationalist Community
4Content: Is the site provided as a public service? Yes it seems to be however the agenda is that of a racial intent. It is a sight against Dr. King. It even has downloadable material available and suggest passing out such material to students in schools.
5. Does it relate to your curriculum? I would never use this sight. It does not seem to be historical or at least the history I am familiar or care to pass on to my children and/or students. There is no value in spread hate and racism.
6. Audience & Currency: is the site suitable for your students? No it is not suitable for young minds at all. I would say it is not even suitable for healthy adult minds. This type of information is corruptible and breads hate. How up to date is the site? Based on some of its sighted information it seems as if it has at least been written within the last 6 years. There is not a sighted date. Reading level appropriate? It is most likely a middle school level.
7 Design: does the site load fast? Yes. Use graphics appropriately? Yes. Easy to navigate, do the links work? Yes, it is very easy and well designed. It seems friendly and looks very appropriate for students. Very deceptive.
8 Overall I would not recommend using this sight in any classroom.

What do I think about Constructivism as a style/theory of teaching?
Maybe it is my psychology background or that I first went to school in the early 90’s but Constructivism sounds pretty good to me. It is my opinion that if a person sees a real life connection to a set of new information she/he is learning she/he will retain and understand it better. However I also do agree that some subjects must be taught in a certain way. The arguement that history cannot be taught in a true constructivism as I see it is not compleatly true. Maybe I do not understand constructivism completely but why can’t you teach history in such a way that the learner can relate and will be guided to the right conclusions. I do believe teachers are to be facilitators and advisors. I believe a teacher should have to find a connection to the content for most if not all of the students. It may take more work however if the student does not learn from your teaching then why are you teaching. A little bit of work goes a long way in the mind of a child.
In short I do like the idea of constructivism (given my limited knowledge), however like most things too much of one thing is just that, too much. But I would lean more towards constructivism rather than the traditional style of teaching.

This is my first time taking a class on line. Also this is the first time I have been in school in about ten years. Having this class on-line has been a big stress reliever. Right now it is Saturday night at 10pm and I am working on my homework. And as soon as I am done I can “turn” it in. Ed. 205 has provided a change in how I take classes in many ways. I must admit I have read more and done more of my homework in this class than in other face-to-face classes. In traditional classes I can typically pick up a lot of what is needed from the lecture and would only read if I had to. In this class everything is reading. I think I have learned more both in reading and by the hands on activities. Normally I think I would say that I miss the live discussions, however I have 4 kids, a husband, a part time job, 2 girl scout troops, and a 1st grade Sunday school class to teach. This opportunity to take a class from the comforts of my house has been a blessing. I do miss having the professor readily available for questions. However, not having him there has made me look for the answer first, thus I learned more. Three weeks ago I was offered a full time substitute position. The room has many problems and I could just go to the principal with a long list of questions or I could figure as many of them out as I can on my own or by asking the appropriate people. Thus I learn valuable skills and the principal learns that I am a capable person. Learning to think on your own is invaluable!
Would I take another class on line? Yes and I wish I had one next semester. I have two psychology classes next semester and both could be on-line. Really most of that stuff is reading and lecture. Very little class discussions go on in those classes. As I said earlier I think I could even get more out of it if it was on line. And hay, I took my mid-term exam sitting on my bed in your pj’s.  Can’t beat that…

The assignment: Please make a list of five specific applications you think every student should learn, from more important to less important (you can name the application or just give the title — e.g., Word or word processors). Explain your ranking in your blog entry. At what level in school do you think each application should be taught? Why?

1. Word Processing (MS-Word)
I think this is the number one application to be used in schools. I would hope this would be introduced by at least 6th grade but could be used as early as 4th or 5th grades. I would have students use Word as a way of finalizing papers and as a tool for editing. Of corse the students would have to be taught how to type and how to find and use the Word program. Any college bound student (and to be fair we should assume all student are capable of higher learning) will need the skills related to word processing. Certainly by late middle and high school all final and even some drafts should be turned in typed. Hay, lets face it, type writer are just not all they are cracked up to be…

2.Research & Reference Tools
I ranked this application second in importance. There are great programs that will give you a dictionary, thesaurus, encyclopedia, almanac, and other such resources all in one CD. A student could navigate through all of those resources easily and much more organized with that program rather than taking all the time and effort at a library. (Not that knowing how to access the right reference books at the library is not a valuable skill) A school library could minimize cost considerably by using these types of CD’s rather than buying a complete encyclopedia set. Students can be taught to use these types of application as early as 1st grade. (With help of corse)
3. Specific Content Area Tools
a. Educational Games
i. There is a lot to be said about a game that makes math fun or teaches a pre-schooler how to read and makes it fun at the same time. Games can be used in all ages and in all levels of education. In my school they even use a game that the severally disabled students can run. It allows the student to touch the key board in any way and then a funny sound will be made. The student then learns if she/he touches the key board than a something funny will happen.
B. Tutorial
i. Although this type of program can be boring it can also be very beneficial. My daughter learned how to type with Mavis. To me that program seemed much more friendly than the old way of class timed typing test we used to do with the type writer. Much less pressure and it adjust to different learning paces. I am not very familiar with different types of tutorial programs so I am not sure what allis out there. But if it was relative to what is being taught I don’t see why a student couldn’t use this as soon as he/she can read. (End of 1st to 2nd grade to be safe)
C. Web Based Education
i. Likewise there are lots of great sights that offer good opportunities for students to learn. I would be leery with out some good parental blocks letting students work on the web un assisted. In the younger ages they might accidently get into something should not and as they get older it will be on purpose. Both should be avoided. I think the web should be available for all levels. The world wide web is a part of our lives and should be used and taught like other text books.

4. Planning & Organizing Tools
As students get older organization skill are a must. Although these types of programs would not be use specifically as a subject but rather as a life skill. I would say students in middle school could be introduced to these type of programs and should be expected to know it by high school. Planning & Organizing Tools can be better taught verbally and by example in the younger grades.

5. Spreadsheets
I will admit I am just learning how and why to use spreadsheets. (Thanks to edu 205) However, I have been told and read enough to know it is something to be learned and used. Because of the complex functions (al least it seems to me) I would most likely wait to introduce this type of application until middle school. Many data entry job use spreadsheets. It could be a life skill that is very valuable.

The question is, what do you do as a teacher when a tragedy strikes your students in some way? I think you do a disservice to your students is you just pooh pooh it away. You cannot sweep it under the rug and pretend it didn’t happen. Take for example the recent tragedy in the south with the hurricane. Every child has at least heard of this tragedy, if not seen all the horrible pictures on T.V. So to pretend that it didn’t happen is insulting the children. My way of dealing with things, as I am sure many other’s would agree, is to reach out and offer help. This is a wonderful way of dealing with remote tragedy’s. Teach the children how to help, how to give and reach out to others. Make it personal and talk about the little people, same age as your students. Then they can relate more closely to the victims. I could even take that opportunity to learn more about weather, hurricanes, cause and effect as it is related to this situation, the ocean, and even the southern region could easily make a good situation out of a very bad one. Gotta love those teachable moments. Besides I think we all learn better when we can see that what we are learning directly relates to our lives.
If the tragedy that hits your school is more personal in nature then I might not be so quick to find educational moments. For example, if a students parent or even a student should die within the school year. I think any grief however small it might seem to others is real in that persons eyes. So to not acknowledge the grief or once again sweep it under the fug if wrong. I would not hesitate putting the regular scheduled subjects on the back burner and just sit down with the students and talk openly about the tragedy. Because my background is social work, I guess I would be more touchy feely with situations like this. We would talk and I would answer any question I could. I am also a Christian and would most likely address answers from that perspective. Of course I would be sure to send a letter home informing parents of what and why we were talking about. And of corse I would tailor the conversation to be age appropriate. And after we talked it through then you do your reaching out. It feels good to do something. It makes us feel like we are helping to “fix” the problem. We would give in some way, money, cards, small gifts, and depending where I was teaching, pray for the family. I am unsure I could provide an un-bias opinion with the regards to my faith. However, I do believe I could avoid the political name calling and so on with regards to situations like sep. 11th or the hurricane or other national tragedy that often spill into the political arena.
I will be honest my first thought was not to look for web sights for help. However, it is foolish not to seek help when you are confused yourself. I guess I would seek the guidance of the principal and other co-workers so that we were all on the same page. But I do believe in talking about situations like this. In bad times we need each other and students spend the large part of their day in school. Regardless of what age you are you still need others to help with the day to day stresses and when bigger bad things happen we need those people even more.

ok, I just need to share my week with you all.
My 13 year old daughter suddely relized she was not perfect. She started middle school this year. Late last week she strated picking fights with who ever but mostly me! Then by Tuesday she really opened up! SO we were both up very late that night…crying and yelling and evrything in between. Then on wendesday a parents of one of the girls in my son’s classroom came over to tell us that my son punched her in the mouth. Appearently she had a fat lip and was bleeding… Well my son did not find that important to tell us. You know when you ask at dinner time… “how was school? what did you do in school today?” Yeah he left that out. SO is story was of course a bit off form hers. But he did say he did hurt her”she was buggging me”. Thursday the school called at work to come get my other daughter. She was feeling so constapated that she was sick. Yeah you don’t even want to know what all we had to do for that. Then the garage sale I spent all week getting ready for had to be canceled on friday because it rained! yeah umm we have not had rain in how long! and it had to rain on my garage sale day! I took the day off form work for this!

Well normaly I would be a fairly up beat person but… this just has been one of those weeks.
Next week WILL be better!!!!!

this is a test, i am not sure who reads this or where it is going? but hay here i am!