Post 10

After reviewing my classmates blogs the topic that I found the most interesting was POST 0. I enjoyed learning about my classmates at the beginning of the semester. Everyone posted what they wanted so no two were the same and I found that very interesting.
Unfortunately this semester we didn't have any time to learn how to use an electronic gradebook. I would have really enjoyed that project. If I would have had a choice I believe learning how to use an electronic gradebook would have proven more beneifical than two weeks of powerpoint presentations.
Overall I found the skills I learned in EME2040 very beneficial. I had never used Inspiration before and I feel as though when I am a teacher I will encourage my students to use that program. I also really enjoyed learning how to make electronic storybooks and games using PowerPoint. Overall I believe that all the skills I learned in EME2040 will eventually be benefical in my own teaching career.

Post 9

As a teacher I believe that I will use excel similiarly to the way I used it in class. I enjoyed learning how to create worksheets using another program other than a word program. Because I created a science worksheet, on the weather, I would feel very comfortable creating a chart, table, graph, etc., and having my students, 4th graders, interperut the information I have provided them. So far on our final course project we have put together the 2-4 page narriative. My partner has put together the spreadsheet, using excel, of the items we wish to purchase and the amount each one will cost. However, my partner and I have not spent a lot of time working on the project inclass nor have we discussed the project outside of class. I believe that one of the biggest challenges so far has been deciding what technology we wish to incorporate in our project.
One of my favorite web-based tools is ability the to add web pages to my favorites. As does anyone, I have some web pages that I visit more than others and I find it extremely helpful to be able to easily access web sites that I visit often.

Post 8

Overall I believe that my game for the PowerPoint 2 assignment turned out well. I had never linked slides together on Powerpoint before so I learned some valuable skills. I will definitely PowerPoint in my own classroom as a notes guide and a review tool. Although I had never used the slide linking feature I also learned how to edit buttons so they match the scheme of your presentation.
If I wasn't using powerpoint or some other computer program as an enhancement to my classroom I would use the TV to show videos about material covered in class. I would also use an overhead projector so my students would know exactly what I believe they should have in their notes.

Post 7

I am a firm believer in using presentation software in the classroom. I believe that reinforcing the material being taught via. PowerPoint is extremely beneficial. PowerPoint allows the instructor to highlight what they believe is the most important information out of the lecture. However, on the negative side of using a PowerPoint it does allow the students to focus less on the lecture because they have the opportuinity to write down essential information and then "zone-out". To use PowerPoint to support student learning dimension I would: Create a flowchart or outline with key points and helpful tricks to help students remember the material. To help students understand and apply, I would have multiple slides on a PowerPoint giving different examples of the concept being executed in everyday life or situations that my students could directly relate to. And finally to have students analyze, evaluate, and create I would require that my students be able to either write a paper or correctly create a project directly related to the material taught. Since technology is a fairly recent phenonemon schools seem to be some of the first places to gain access to new pieces of technology. However, as the technology phenonemon has grown the economy has failed therefore, the amount of money for schools to purchase equipment has also declined. Unfortunately, students in some school districts are way behind others in learning basic skills that have now become a necessity in life.

Post 6

I believe that the use of web 2.0 technology in classrooms has greatly changed the way teachers teach. In todays society the internet has become a necessity for communicating. Teachers use the web to post announcements, assignments, grades, and send emails to students and parents. Web 2.0 allows for this to occur safely and securly. I believe Wikipedia is not a responsible learning resource. Generally, wikipedia is one of the first websites that a search engine returns as a match for websites containing search words. Overall wikipedia contains a lot of factual information however, there are cases where the information posted is incorrect because the information posted on wikipedia can be edited by anyone to say anything. Although some of the most obscene information gets removed from the site not all of it does making it overall a noncrediable resource. Over the past week I have become more familiar with Powerpoint. I have learned how to download different templets from websites inorder to keep my students intregued. I have also learned how to successfully develop a powerpoint slide show so that the amount of information on it is not overwhelming to my students.

Post 5

In my opinion the ability to use the internet for student research is extremely useful. I believe that the internet has advanced students' ability to gain knowledge above and beyond the limits of books. The internet provides students the opportunity to browse material from hundreds of sources in a short period of time. The internet allows students to read facts along with opinions and gain a multi-deminisonial outlook on the material researched. However, I do believe that the internet does have a negative side- the amount of effort needed for students to research a topic is much less. The internet contributes to the extreme laziness of students and greatly lessens the amount of time students spend reading and in the library. Another way I would web-based resources to support student learning are online games and blogs. Students respond well to interactive activities and prefer to learn material in fun/unusual/unique ways. I hope to someday teach 6th grade in an elementary school. I recently observed a 6th grade classroom and the students were to give an oral presentation on a famous African American. However, one of the students did no research and read a biography, word-for-word off a website. Ironically enough, this is one of my biggest fears- dealing with students who have plagerise- especially at a young age (i.e. 6th grade). The students are old enough to understand the idea of plagerism but not necessarily old enough to understand the consequences.

Post 4

As a 4th grade teacher I would use concept maps, idea maps, storyboards, branches, and pictures to help my students understand ideas better. Visual learners would benefit from these teaching tools alot more than audio learners but reinforcing material via flow charts is an enormous help. I would encourage my students to develop outlines, idea maps,and storyboards because I am a firm believe that they help reinforce learned material. Before the last week of class I had never used the Insipration program. I really enjoyed using the program and believe it is an extremely useful tool when developing maps and flow carts. Inspiration allows one to develop ideas and organize thoughts in an easy to read and follow manner.

Post 3

If I was going to create a lesson plan that had to someway involve technology it would probably be one that I did one year. My dream is to teach 6th grade in an elementary school and when I was in 6th grade we had to create an electronic portfolio. The project was ongoing and consisted of significant events throughout the school year and our opinion of them. The project was completed through Power Point and had to satisify different requirements. The portfolio taught me skills on Power Point that I will never forget. So far my experiences with Copyright have been basic. I was taught not to copy someone elses work, if I wanted to use their work I either had to cite it within my paper/project or I had to parapharase it using my own words. I believe that my teachers did a good job teaching me how to successfully cite or parapharase copyrighted work.The website I used to critique was, http://www.kidsbiology.com/human_biology/index.php . According to the rules in chapter 6, the website follows them pretty closely; It uses pictures and words to explain concepts. It uses headings to tell the user where it is at on the website. It uses the same text style throughout the entire website but emphasizes important points with larger font. The color scheme is basic yet children oriented. Overall the website is children friendly-easy to navigate and use.

Post 2

As a student I have used MS Word quite a bit. I am generally using the program to write papers, complete homework assignments, or open documents that teachers have emailed. Previously my teachers have used MS Word to generate news letters to be sent home, make tests, quizzes, and assignments.
Having had computers in my classroom throughout my entire eductaion I have become quite dependent on them. I believe that I will use MS Word basically for the same reasons my previous teachers have; make homework assignments, worksheets, news letters, tests, and quizzes.
So far in EME2040 I have perfected my skills with MS Word. Although I was pretty familiar with the program there were some aspects of it that I was a little unfamiliar with. I really like the way my news letter and my quiz turned out-- I kind of felt like a real teacher making them!! I am excited to continue learning how to use new software programs that I am not so familiar with.

Post 1

I believe that computers are an important part of teaching because they allow students to learn similiar ideas at different levels. Instructors have a plethera of websites, applications, games, and programs to choose from when deciding how to further advance their students skills. However, because students are given the freedom to search the web and share files/folders there are isses that arise plagerism, copyright laws, inappropriate websites, etc., and it is up to the instructor to monitior what goes on, on the computers, in their classroom. In my opinion the advantages of trusting students to properly use the computers are much more beneficial than not allowing technology "freedom" in the classroom because of potential problems.
In my classroom someday I hope to use computers to enhance my students learning. I want my students to have the skills to properly use computers. I want my students to be able to have the ability to search the web and use programs to successfully complete projects entirely and legally on the computer. From this class I hope to further my own skills on computers. I want to know how to successfully work every potential program I may want to use in my own classroom someday--Although I want to teach elementary students I and I wouldn't expect a third grader to successfully create an excel spread sheet document, I would expect them to be able to analayze information based off of an excel document (graphs, charts, etc.) but if I am a bit uncertain with my own skills I would not be able to teach my students the skills.
I have to thank my elementary teachers for teaching me my skills on computers. Every class I have been in since first grade has had a computer in it. My teachers have required us to create projects, research information, and use applications (games--software programs) to further enhance our own skill levels. Because I am a visual learner I know that these types of activities enabled me to learn more than I ever would have listening to a teacher lecture and I know I am not the only student like that. Therefore someday I will teacher with computers!

Introduction

My name is Danielle Boza. I graduated high school in Northern Virginia but I moved all over as a child. After attending Michigan State I decided I couldn't deal with the cold weather and transferred to FSU- So far I love it. I have one little sister who attends Chiles, lucky for me my dad's job brought my family to Tallahassee so now home is only a short car ride away. My extended family is from Michigan so I try to go back and visit as much as possible. I recently changed my major to elementary education and so far I am extremely happy. I do believe I am destin to be a teacher :-)