Field Experience 3/31-4/6

SPRING BREAK!!!

Field Experience 2

What?

This is my second week of field and many things have happened. I have been able to see the impact technology has on my students as well as my cooperating teacher.

So What?

During this weeks field, I have seen how technology has made me a better teacher, student and colleague. I have seen how the colleagues in Vista elementary work together and how they share ideas and PowerPoint's. This has opened my eyes to see that I will not be alone when teaching. Each teacher has a unique way of doing things and they have different ideas of PowerPoint's including different information. This has helped me see the success I could have in connecting with my students as my colleagues and I worked together.

This week has been great. Our cooperating teacher has shown a lot of interest in using more technology into her lessons. My partner and I use Google presentations for every lesson we have taught and it has been the best tool for us. I have come to appreciate Google docs and presentation because it is convenient and we are constantly using them. Our cooperating teacher has acknowledge how much we use it and how the students connect to it better and are more involved in learning. With this happening, our teacher has asked us to teach her how to use PowerPoint and how to find all the information we do on the Internet. She is very willing to learn and I think it she will continue to use this tool. This has helped me as a student because I have actually used what I have learned in class and put action to it my teaching it to our cooperating teacher. The technology used in classrooms means a lot in the advancement and enjoyment students get from learning. After this week I also believe it helps and means a lot to the advancements to our cooperating teacher. She has found excitement in it and I have been excited that she wants to use something we have showed her. The Smart Board is still one of the best tools in the classroom and is used all throughout the day with many different subjects. As colleagues we have been able to share our PowerPoint's with our cooperating teacher. She has asked us to download what we have made to her USB stick which I think shows great team work.

Now What?

Technology is what my future students are. Over the last couple of weeks, I have seen the connection my students gained from using technology. I have witnessed my students with little or no technology experience excelling and really paying attention and bringing it into their learning the way they should. I have seen them have a clear understanding of what is being taught because they have the visuals to help them. Technology is still being used to test and I have seen the positives as well as negatives with doing this. The positives are it is easier to do and grade and way more convenient. The negatives are, the students fool around on other websites such as games and do not get their tests done. Technology can have its good and bad points to it and those were a few examples.

This week I did not see my students go to the computer lab as often as they did last week. However I have seen the use of the Smart Board more. For example in math, the students are called on and will use the Smart Board to show how they got their answer. This allows them to teach the others students as well as allow the teacher to see if they really understand how to solve this type of problem. I have noticed this week that my teacher uses more technology than she probably realizes. It is the best way to teach in my opinion as long as the students stay focused and on topic. The students seemed to adapt really well to it and paid more attention. As a colleague, I have seen the impact technology has had on our cooperating teacher and the benefits we have all seen in using it. It gives all of us different ideas. This helps with all forms of collaboration in the classroom and school.

Video Reflection

What:The next generation is surrounded my technology in all forms. They see their parents using it work work and personal reasons and then in this video the school the boy goes to is an ICT school where technology is used everywhere. So What: This boy showed a lot of excitement in going to school which makes for a fun and entertaining learning experience. Chalk boards used in the past has turned into Smart Boards that can be used as drawing and computer use. There are many forms of technology and it helps all students, especially those that are shy. The next generation will have assignments and learning at the press of the finger. The parents and students can use and do school work and homework anywhere. Now what does this mean to me, it means the next generation learning involves the parents more as well as the students. The students enjoy learning and puts more effort and work into it.

Field Experience 1

What?

This week I started my first field experience. This will allow me to see and interact with students as well as teach lessons.

So What?

This week I started my first field experience at Vista Elementary. Doing my field experience helps me become a better teacher, student and colleague. I am able to see how the colleagues work together in the school as well as how I work with my cooperating teacher. In doing so, this helps me to have open eyes and see how much you work with other people when teaching to make the students learning a success. This helps me as a student because I can see similarities between my students in the classroom and the way I am as a student. I can tie connections and maybe learn from them or help them understand better.

I believe we do this so it gives us authentic learning. We are doing hands-on and real life learning which is one of the best ways to learn and truly understand what teaching really is like and what we have to look forward to. It gives us an opportunity to see if this is the right calling for us in life. All of my classes are dealing with education, so this is a great tool to better myself by using what I have learned in those classes as well as teaching those I work with everyday. The technology used in classrooms means a lot in the advancement and enjoyment students get from learning. In my classroom we have a smart board and it really makes it convenient to teach with it. The students also enjoy it. As colleagues we are able to share PowerPoint, ideas, and much more. I have seen my teacher use a PowerPoint another teacher in her team made. This shows great collaboration and teamwork.

Now What?

Technology is what my future students are. I have worked with some students that have not had the opportunity of using technology, but it is a great way to work with them and help them learn. It is an interactive tool that can guide them through success. The new way of testing is done through computers. My students will need to know how to use a computer in order to test. This changes my schema because when I was a student everything was done on paper. This is convenient and easy as well as less stressful. Using technology in my classroom will change my teaching style for the best. I have become a fan of Smart boards and I believe they are only going to get better. It doesn't limit what teachers, or myself, can do in the classroom.

During my first week of field, I have seen my students go to the computer lab everyday. They have had an assignment to create a PowerPoint on the rock cycle. I can do assignments similar to this and much more. This assignment allowed them to work with their booklet they filled out in class throughout the unit, work with others in the class, and share it with those that are not in the school.This helps me to become a better teacher by allowing different ways of learning in the classroom. It is modern and up to date with what the children are doing in their everyday lives. I have seen both sides of teaching during filed, the teacher that is very smart with technology and my teacher who is old school and doesn't use much technology. We have taught a few lessons already and we have followed after the teacher who uses technology. We used YouTube, the Smart Board, and a video. The students seemed to adapt really well to it and paid more attention. As a colleague, I think this helps our cooperating teacher see both sides as well. It gives all of us different ideas. This helps with all forms of collaboration in the classroom and school.

Video Reflection

I really liked this video. I completely agree we should all be educators. I have noticed students learn better and have stronger power to learn. As a student this helps me identify what teachers are educating and which are just teaching. I looked back on past classes and the classes I did better in went with the educating approach. Working with a class now, I have access to really influence and help students. I am working with a couple ESL students and if I take the educating path, I believe these students will learn and pick up on the information faster. Guiding is a tool that is beneficial for both the student as well as the teacher. As a future teacher, this allows me to see the impact teachers have and who succeeds the most by teaching that way. I want my students to have the best form of education and I believe educating is the best way. The presentation said it all. All of the key facts to success!

Digital Story 1

What?

We are learning about digital stories. We are learning how to use them in a classroom and how to make one. Our assignment is to start putting together a digital story by completely a storyboard.

So What?

This means a number of things to me as a teacher, student, and colleague. I can use digital stories in any situation, whether it be in my personal life or to help teach a lesson. As a student, there are several projects we are to do and using a digital story to connect to my audience is a great way. As a teacher, students learn well when they are doing something they enjoy. Digital stories is like watching a film and this time it is on a subject they may be studying. Teachers can capture the students attention if they are using a digital story in which students find interesting and relevant. As a colleague we work best by sharing ideas. Digital stories can be used anywhere and by anyone. Sharing them within the school, grade level, and even around education in general is helpful and a great support for colleagues. I believe we are doing this because it is entertaining and interesting for students which is a great tool to helps students learn.

Everybody loves watching films that connect to you and have meaning and this is the goal for digital stories. I can use this in my personal life as something fun to do and show my nieces and nephews. I can also use this with my other classes by using it as a tool to present information. I love this type of technology and have a lot of interest in it. To me it means creativity and excitement for both my students and myself. This technology for my colleagues means a way of sharing ideas and creating an atmosphere for your students to learn. This is a way of communicating in the education world.

Now What?

Digital stories mean to my future students a way of learning. It means a hook and a way to introduced new information. It means a way to be connected to the subject. I have made videos before but never something that tells a story about a subject I will be teaching in school. This changes my schema to see there are so many different ways to teach and introduce information and this way is a great way that will benefit both my students and me. This will change the type of teacher I will be by using digital stories. Watching the samples in class built a connection for me and I hope to do the same with my future students.

I can assign my students to create their own digital stories. This will work as an assessment for me to see if they really understood the content information and it is also a fun way for them to do an assignment and work with other peers. This will help me as a future teacher by using digital stories in many forms. Not just as a great hook for the lesson, but also a great way to help my students enjoy learning. It will help me as a future colleague by staying current and relevant and being an example to my colleagues. They can use my work and likewise I can use theirs.This type of collaboration is different than what the norm is but it is a great way to stay connected to those you work with.

Video Reflection

This digital story was about NASA. This digital story was not one of my favorites. There were a couple things I did like about it and a couple things I did not like. First lets start with the things I did not like about it. I did not like the words displaying the persons name. The narrator told who they were and I thought that was good enough. The writing took away from seeing the whole picture. Another thing I didn't like or I thought was not something I would do was speeding up the slides at the end. The slides did not match the music or the talking which I think took away the feeling and mood of this digital story. Here are a the things I liked about the story. I thought this digital story did a great job telling through a narrator. The narrator did not portray he was reading a script. I also thought adding in Kennedy giving his speech impacted and set the feeling. So, all in all I would definitely change some of the things mentioned above.

WebQuest Final/Podcast/Vidcast

What:

This week we learned how to make the final fixes on our WebQuests and how to submit and make them copyrighted. We also learned about Postcasts and Vidcasts and what they are used for. The assignments for this week are to finish our WebQuest, make it copyrighted, and submit it. We are also to start our Vidcasts and Postcast.

So What:

Going into the education field has opened my eyes to the different types of technology we need to know and use. As a student, WebQuests, Vidcasts, and Podcasts can help me present information in all of my classes. As a teacher this is going to become one of the most used technology tools. Vidcasts and Podcasts are very beneficial in students learning because they are able to see what it is I am wanting them to see. This generation is also very involved in technology and so this is a great way for me to connect to my students. I will also be able to use Vidcasts and Podcasts on my WebQuest. As a colleague, I will use this to help other teachers by developing a Vidcast or Podcast on a subject and in return my colleagues will make some and they will help me. We will all work together to be innovative and creative.

We are using these types of technology because they are useful and they help us connect to our students. They get the message across and they are also easy for our students to do if we ever wanted them to do it for an assignment. Life in general and in my other classes all three of these tools are helpful and useful in presenting information. Each of us like to watch videos and so we are bringing that interest into our classrooms and becoming entertained by the information we learn as well as present. To me all three of these types of technology means enjoyment, excitement and the new way of learning. This technology means for my colleagues the same. It also means connection and communication not only with our students but with the people we work with. TeacherTube helps teachers everyday. This is another great way to stay current and at the same time not be so overwhelmed becasue you have others helping you.

Now What:

This technology means everything to my future students. In a couple of years when I have my own classroom, this will be the kind of things they will be interested in and will be proficient in. If I don't learn it or teach it then I will lose some of students to boredom. My future students will be able to stay current and in the future will be able to be successful due to knowing how to use the different types of technology. This has changed my schema by incorporating videos and podcasts from the internet. It makes searching for a certain idea easy by being convenient.. I do plan to use all three of these tools in my classroom which will show I want to be connected to my students as well as be current in what is required to know. I will also use copyrighting to protect my projects but will still allow for others to borrow my ideas and work.

Vidcasts, Podcasts, and WebQuests can all be used by my students and each will allow them to collaborate and work with all students. If they were asked to make something dealing with technology Vidcasts and Podcasts are great. I can give them pretty much any subject to work with and they can get ideas from other students across the country. They can also work with those that are in their class. This will help them to research any topic as well as help them learn how to work with other people. This will help me to become a better teacher by being fun and creative and bringing that atmosphere to my students. They will see the excitement I have and hopefully in return will feed off of it. As a colleague, this will make me better by staying up to date with what students need to use and learn from. I can benefit my colleagues by teaching them or by being an example and showing my success. The collaboration we as teachers have will be strong because we will be working together in all ways and sharing many ideas.

Video Reflection:

What: Blogging is one of the best ways to get our point across. The short clip stated several reasons why blogging is great for student to do and those are, for communication, literacy, ownership, sharing, collaboration, discussion, empowerment, interaction, motivation, participation, engagement, excitement, conversation, creativity, for reflection, to extend the walls of the classroom, to give students a voice, to give students an audience, to give students a learning environment, and to give them skills that will help them in their digital future. So What: So what this means is power and fun in learning. It means expression through technology so all can see. Now What: this now means to act on it. Children are learning well and are expressing themselves better by blogging. It gives them control which will help teachers see a result which is good. They are taking responsibility for what they are learning and doing and are at the end helps the teachers see that they understand.