Week 11

The three principles I think would be most useful are the Multimodal Principle- where knowledge is obtained through different aspects such as being able to tell students how to do something, show them pictures, let them discuss it, and then act out or physically do it, the Semiotic Domains Principle- where learning involves mastering semiotic domains and being able to participate in groups connected to them, and the Probing Principle- which is a learning cycle of doing something, reflecting in and on actions, and forming a hypothesis, re-probing to test the hypothesis, and then accepting or rethinking the hypothesis.
I don’t really know what kind of simulation would be helpful in my classroom. I kind of like the old fashioned way of learning language arts- textbooks, literature and discussions. Really none of this is stuff I am looking forward to using like previous technologies we have covered such as blogs or wikis.
In conclusion, I understand that all technologies can be useful in the classroom, but these in particular, I think, would be better utilized in agriculture or science.

WEEK 7

Use of Technology and Powerpoints

I think the best types of writing activities to make use of technology are the tried and true, old fashioned essays. You can use podcasts, wikis, and blogs to do research. You must have a computer to type the report up. I know it sounds silly and old fashioned, but essays can get you the best and most use of technology.
To keep a power point presentation from being distracting, keep it simple. Don’t have a lot of un-needed stuff going on. Also keep your information short and to the point. Too much information on a slide makes your audience lose interest.
There are thousands of things technology can be used for in writing, reading, science, you name it. All subject matter can use technology. As I said, I get the most use out of technology when doing an essay and the most use from a power point when it doesn’t have a bunch of un-needed information and un-needed bells and whistles.


Jonassen, D., Howland, J., Marra, R. M., & Crismond, D. (2008). Meaningful Learning With Technology. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Assignment Week 6

Personal Digital Assistants and Online Survey Tools can both be very useful tools for learning in a modern world.  They can be used to help students plan, take notes, see examples of things they do not understand, and review.
Personal digital assistants are mobile devices that function as personal information managers such as Palm Pilots, Blackberries, and iPhones.  They can be used in a classroom in place of a laptop computer.  They could serve a student for planning, note taking, and podcasts.
Online surveys could be helpful to student mostly as exam reviews.  The two most helpful hints for writing surveys, I think, are to avoid leading questions and avoid non specific questions.  You want to make your questions clear so that the student knows what you are talking about while still making them come up with their own answer.  Also, students could make their own surveys on a certain subject (kind of like teaching the teacher) in an effort to show that they understand the material.
In conclusion, I think these things would be very helpful in teaching students and finding out exactly where they stand on learning the material.


 Works Cited
http://www.qualtrics.com/university/top-ten-rules-for-writing-surveys/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_digital_assistant

 http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic78.htm

Week 4: Spreadsheets

      I love spreadsheets.  I may be strange, but I always have loved them and found them very useful.  Spreadsheets are just about the only thin in this class that I get so far.  I think spreadsheets can be useful as gradebooks for teachers and for students. 
      If you use formulas correctly you do not have to do the math yourself; just put in the number and let the computer do it for you.  Students can track their grades using spreadsheets so they know where they stand.
      If you understand spreadsheets and use them correctly you can come in very handy.



Jonassen, D., Howland, J., Marra, R. M., & Crismond, D. (2008). Meaningful Learning With Technology. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.  88-90

Week 3: Word

      I really am not wuite sure what Inspiration is.  What I got from it was that it is a powerpoint.  Powerpoints can be used effectively in classrooms for notetaking.
      When I was in highschool (and even now) I was not very good at taking notes during a lecture.  I like it now when my teachers give us powerpoint presentations for us to use as notes.  Even if they don't make copies for me to take home, just puting it up on the projector is helpful.  It makes it so much easier for me to follow the lecture and write down the main points of the lecture since they are made clear and obvious.  I think using this in a high school classroom will make it so much easier for students to follow along and be clear on what you are trying to teach them.
      Again, I am not sure what Inspiration is other than a powerpoint. (If anyone knows pleae clue me in.)  But if that is what it is it will be helpful in the classroom for note taking.

Assignment

What do you think about using blogs? What and how do you think blogs would be useful for education? Some people think using blogs in classrooms is a waste of students’ time. How would you respond?

What are some ways that you could use he technology ideas in Chapter 6 to support your curriculum and student learners?

Jonassen, D., Howland, J., Marra, R. M., & Crismond, D. (2008). Meaningful Learning With Technology. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall. 

I am excited to learn to use technology in the classroom.  I think there are many useful tools out there to better reach students.  Blogs and Wikis, especially, can be useful sources of information.  Children today are more technologically advanced than those of previous time periods.  Some people may think that using technology is a waste of time but I think that if you want to reach students you must stay up to date with teaching methods.  When I was in highschool I hated nothing more that a teacher from the stone age.
      Blogs and Wikis are great for communicating the ideas of a whole "community" of students and teachers in one forum.  Everyone can see everyone's ideas.  Many students today use computers so much of the time that it just makes sense to use the situation to your advantage.  We use Wiki space for my American Literature class and it makes the whole class so much easier. Everyone can share their ideas in a way that lets everyone be heard.
      I think using blogs or wikis either one is a great idea.  Technology can involve all students, even the shy ones because almost all students of today use these things anyway.  It is a useful way to reach a new generation of learners.

Introduction

Hi.  This is my blog. I hve no idea what I am doing, but my picture is cute huh?  That would be because it is my son, Jayden, who is three months old.  I am from Yantis, which is a teeny tiny town right in the middle of Lake Fork.  I live there with my husband and our son.  As soon as I figure out how to put more pictures on here I will post some of Jayden and my husband, Justin.  Ok, so I guess i need to go and figure this thing out! Bye!