Professional Development

I am going to be starting my 8^th year of teaching this fall, and I can’t believe all the changes that have occurred within the last 5 years in education.  In my opinion, professional development is a must because of the constant changes within the education system.  We have to seek outside sources to keep up with the changes, and to fully understand how to best reach our students each year.

This last year, our district decided to not allot any money for outside professional development.  We are only able to attend workshops that are held by our local Regional Office of Education.  Fortunately, they held a workshop on teaching students on the spectrum.  It was very beneficial as I had my first severe case this year, and I learned many ways to help this student be more successful throughout the school year.  If I had not attended the workshop, I wouldn’t have learned the necessary tools I needed to help my student.  I know it is hard for teachers to not be in the classroom, but it’s important to seek outside sources for ideas.

Since our math curriculum is changing, we will and have already received many sessions showing us how to integrate technology into our lessons.  I’m one of the 9 teachers left in our school who do not have a smart board, so the training is great; however I do not get to use it day to day. 

This class has opened up a lot of ideas for me, and shown me different ways I can integrate technology.  I’m very excited to use power point and glog posters as a part of my science class.  The students will love using it for projects.  The hands-on experience will teach them more than just reading out of a textbook.

I plan on continuing my professional development by constantly challenging my technological skills by using the new equipment we obtain, and my taking the classes on how to integrate these into the classroom.  We have many professional development workshops already scheduled for next year, and I will attending those as well. 

Chapters 5 & 6

I don't know about you all, but I felt overwhelmed with all the new knowledge and websites I gained after reading these chapters!!!  I was copying pages left and right because I decided to rent the book instead of purchasing!! BAD IDEA!  I'm also wishing school wasn't out, because there are so many neat ideas to use in the classroom, but they are being stored for next year!
     I'm already familiar with the online gradebook, as we use Skyward at our school.  It was so nice to not have to add up all the scores for each student, and I love making comments right on the report card.  It is much faster to type them than to handwrite them.  The clickers, or senteos as we call them, are a new technology tool I was able to use this year.  They are extremely handy, and the results are super fast!  I'm hoping to use them for more than just our reading quizzes next year.
     The concept mapping website is something I think I would really use.  We had a professional come in this year, and show us how to teach reading strategies.  Concept mapping was a skill she taught us, and the kids love it.  It is such a great way to take tough information, and simlify it through a concept map.  It also ensures that students are understanding what they are reading.
      Hypermedia is a new term I learned after reading chapter 6.  I have often heard the term multimedia used, but never hypermedia.  I do agree with the researchers that students writing and processing skills improve through the use of hypermedia.  Students are more apt to want to create a computer project that has writing along with pictures and clips versus a handwritten essay.  I couldn't believe how my students loved playing with clipart this year.  It's the second year we've had a moblie lab at our school, and the students just loved typing their essays on microsoft word.  I can't imagine how excited they would be if I let them create a website or even a powerpoint!
     Chapter 6 was an overwhelming wealth of knowledge! I just wish I knew how to do half of what they talked about.  I'm getting better with powerpoint, but as far as using a video camera and putting clips into things, I'm not so sure.  It is amazing to me how technological our world is becoming.  I'm wishing all of my students would show up on the first day with a laptop and a flashdrive!!

Digital Natives--Week 3

     After watching the two videos, I realize how behind the times I am, as well as my school district.  It was amazing to me seeing all the uses for technology in the classroom.  The district I work in has started gearing instruction towards the tech world, but we do have a long way to go.
     As I was watching the videos, I was imagining my students creating powerpoints, or animating a photostory on a book they've read or a science topic they've researched.  I think it would be a great idea to show students exactly what skills they need to create a video game.  This would be a real-world lesson on why they need to learn the different subjects.  I do use Study Island at my computer center in the classroom.  Study Island is a ISAT based program that allows students to answer questions and play games if they get the questions right.  Students can choose to do reading, math, or science.  All the questions are broken down into certain topics, and it's a great tool to have students work on certain skills.  They enjoy doing it because games are involved.  Students are always much more involved when they are doing something.  Using contemporary instructional software allows students to be moving and doing, not sitting and listening the whole time.  Our world has changed, and we need to embrace the changes, and use them to our advantage.
      Technology integration can reach all learners.  Many programs have differentiation already built in.  Students are able to work on things at their own pace with technology, and those students who can't sit still will be more engaged if their hands are busy working on the computer.  I know I use Senteos, and they offer each student to enter answers at their own pace, and the feedback is instant for the teacher.
     Benefits of technology are it's fast, keeps students moving and engaged, while offering a bit of fun as well.  Anything on the computer seems to be more fun for my students than pencil and paper.  Pitfalls would be students are sitting for hours and staring at a computer screen.  This is not good for their eyes, and also some things still need to be done on pencil and paper.  Students still need to learn to write, and if we do everything on the computer, I'm afraid they will forget how to do things without a computer.

Impressive

I'm completely impressed I was able to do this!! My friend had started one of these on her pregnancy with triplets, and I always thought it was so neat.  I'm excited I was able to do this, and excited to use it to communicate with everyone!