Final PLE Post

I liked keeping a PLE because I could put everything I learned onto one website that I can refer back to for future use. Because it is on the internet I can't lose it so it will always be there when I need it.

What I liked least was reflection posting, especially during the Practicum. I didn't have much to say during the practicum because we didn't use technology at all.

I might use a blog or wiki in my class if I think it is appropriate for the grade level and school. It depends on how the school itself would feel about that and whether or not I would be able to post much of the kids and their work.

Week 15 - Internet Safety Videos

What were the most important things you learned?
The most important thing I learned was to be aware but not overbearing. I need to know what is going on in my kids' lives but not in a forceful way. I need to establish a relationship of trust where my children will tell if something is happening in their lives. I need to teach them ways of protecting themselves online and teach them of the dangers that may happen. I need to understand the technology so I will not jump to conclusions or be confused.

How might you use the resources you discovered in your future classroom or home?
I can show my class and siblings the videos so they can see how to avoid problems on the internet.

Internet Safety

I chose to read "Mixed Signals" from the New Era for my fourth article. It was about how to choose good media and technology. I think this is extremely important because we will be using technology. It isn't about whether or not we use it, it's about how we use it. I think that parents need to be aware of what is going on in their children's technological lives and should be just as up-to-date as they are. We cannot just ignore it and have everything be okay. As a parent I need to be aware and teach my own children and students how to avoid problems and how to use technology in an uplifting way. Technology and the internet has so many uses and we need to teach our children all the good ways to use it as well as the ways to avoid the bad. I can help teach my family and friends all these awesome ways we can use technology and also help them to know how to avoid problems.

Week 3 Practicum

My teacher refuses to use computers and technology. She does not want to learn new things and says that she does not need them. Trying to use it is very difficult because she hates it so much and has nothing available. We will need to bring our own in or have her let us borrow the laptop the school has given her.

I used the internet to get a clip about frogs. They really enjoyed watching something and were very involved, even though it was choppy due to slow internet. They never get to do anything like that; the tv in the classroom is covered and no one knows it is even there. There are lots of technological possibilities that these kids would benefit from.

Week 3 Practicum

We found out that we can borrow our teacher's computer to connect to the internet.

This will help us at least be able to get some technology in our classroom for our assignments and kids.

Week 2 Practicum

My teacher has yet to use any technology, however when I sat in a music class the teacher used a Smart Board. It was way neat. She even let the kids draw on it too, so she was involving them in the technology. The Smart Boards make the board way more colorful and you can do so much with it. I would love to have my own in my classroom.

When I tried to bring my laptop in to use it in a science lesson I was unable to use it because I couldn't connect to the internet. Next time I need to ask how to connect to the internet there.

Technology could be used for any of the reading lessons to make them more interesting and different. We do the same things with phonics and reading and I think they could benefit from technology. We highlight words in sentences and the kids could do this with a smart board or just a power point or something different.

First Week of Practicum

I did not see any technology in the classroom besides the use of a tape player for music. The class doesn't have any computers, projectors, etc. in it. The office said that a mobile computer lab comes once per week but I did not see it come for my class, it was possible it came when I was not there or not at all. My teacher is older, so that may be the reason for not having technology in the classroom. She does have a record player though ;-)

I will have to bring in my laptop or anything else for use of technology in this classroom. There is a screen thing installed so I can project on that if I bring in a projector or overhead.

I think it would be fun to use technology for literacy through projections of words so all kids can see it.