Virtual Field Trip

My virtual field trip was about the events leading up to the American Revolution. Although there are several issues that lead to this historical event, I only had my students look at the French and Indian War, the Boston Tea Party, the Boston Massacre, the Stamp Act, and the Intolerable Acts. I had my students give four facts on each event and then organize this information into a Scrumblr and a timeline. They had to submit the Scrumblr via e-mail and they were to print off the timeline and turn it into me by the due date.

Wiki

Scrumblr Assignment

I would use scrumblr to teach my students about solids, liquids, and gases. I broke up my board into three different categories with the titles solid, liquid, and gas. Then I would have my students post notecards under each category. On each notecard, the student would have to give an example of a solid, liquid, or gas. There would need to be at least three examples under each category.

Computer Lab Seating Chart

One benefit of using Microsoft Word is that it was easy for me to use. I knew exactly how I needed to make my seating chart by using this tool. One limitation of using Microsoft Word is that if I want to make another seating chart I would have to start all over. If I would have used another tool such as PowerPoint I would be able to copy my seating chart instead of having to start from scratch.

Dream Computer

My name is Jodie Williams and I teach a kindergarten class. My room as well as the rest of the kindergarten classrooms is in desperate need of new computers for our students to use for educational games, simple research projects, and other activities. I need three new computers to be purchased for my classroom. I have found a HP Pavilion desktop for $499.99. It includes Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, an Intel Core i3-540 dual-core processor, a 4GB DDR3-1333MHz SDRAM, a free upgrade to a 750GB 7200 rpm SATA 3Gb/s hard drive from a 500GB, a DVD+/- R/RW supermulti drive, an Integrated Ethernet port, a memory card reader, 2 USB ports, a HP USB keyboard, and optical mouse. This desktop would be ideal to purchase for our classrooms because it comes with Windows, which is a universal program that all teachers and students know how to use. It also comes with the free upgrade to the 750GB hard drive, which will allow for more storage and the keyboard and mouse are included as well. The original price is $599.99; however, there is an one hundred dollar instant rebate, which makes the desktop come to $499.99. Also, with the purchase of this desktop, HP gives a twenty dollar discount on Norton Internet Security™ 2011 making the price only $29.00. The subscription is for fifteen months and this software is ranked number one in protection and performance. It protects your computer from the latest online threats and viruses when connected to the Web. With this security program, the teacher will have a peace of mind knowing that his or her computers are well protected.
For the monitor, I have found a HP 2011x20`` LED monitor for $199.99, but if we buy the HP desktop then we get an instant rebate of sixty dollars making the monitor only $139.99. Because of the LED screen on the computer monitor, our students will be able to see the detail of what is being viewed better than on a regular computer screen and an LED screen is not easily broken, which is great considering this monitor will be in a classroom full of kindergarteners. It also has a 1600x900 resolution that will also help with seeing the detail of the picture on the monitor more clearly. With the 5 ms on/off response time, a blur of a moving picture on the monitor will be a bare minimum. This monitor is also only 1`` deep, which can save space in the classroom and it can also connect to a laptop or netbook if the need arises. With this monitor, the students, with the aid of the teacher, can also move the screen around to find the desired viewing position. This will be useful if there is a glare or some other issue that calls for the monitor to be adjusted to a different position. A one-year limited warranty is included with this computer monitor, as well as, an external power supply, a power cable, a VGA cable, a DVI-D cable, a cable management clip, and a CD with instructions.
For the printer, I have found a HP Photosmart e-All-in-One Printer-D110a for $99.99; however, if we buy the HP desktop, we get a forty-dollar instant rebate on the printer and then the price would only be $59.99. This printer is wireless allowing for multiple computers in the classroom to be able to print. This printer also has a scanner and a copier in it so that the teacher can scan photos or make copies of activity sheets all from his or her classroom. With all of these functions in one tool, the teacher would not have to leave the classroom unattended to go make copies or scan photos because of the convenience of this all-in-one printer. This printer also comes with a one-year limited warranty and toll-free phone support, a power supply, a power cord, a tote bag, an accessory bag, a HP 60 black cartridge, a HP 60 tri-color cartridge, a CD with software, and a reference guide.
For the speakers, I have found some HP 2-piece USB speakers for $19.99, but with the purchase of the HP desktop, we also get an instant rebate of three dollars on the speakers. The new price for the speakers would be $16.99. These speakers are easy to set up by just simply inserting the USB plug-in into the USB port on your desktop. These speakers are small, but have a great 2.0 channel stereo sound, which will help the students be able to hear clearly. Because of their small size, they will not take up much space. These speakers come with a quick start guide and a one-year limited warranty. With the desktop, monitor, and all the other accessories for this computer, the total would come to $745.96 per computer, which is $2,237.88 for all three. The shipping and handling is free and would be delivered in five to seven business days.
In addition to this computer, I would love to purchase a projector and screen for my classroom. These tools will help my lessons be more effective and help enhance the interest of my students in what is being discussed. I could display pictures and slideshows pertaining to the lesson, as well as, play short clips and videos that help the students better understand what is being taught. I have found an Optoma-Pico Pocket DLP projector at BestBuy for about $428.23 with shipping and handling and would be delivered in three to seven business days. This projector has a 1280x800 WXGA resolution and has a 5`` to 120`` viewable screen size. The LED lamp in this projector provides up to 20,000 hours of lamp life and there is a microSD card slot in it. The screen that I have found that I want to purchase to use with my projector is from BestBuy and is on sale for $79.99. It has an 84`` diagonal screen with 50``Hx67``W viewing area and can be mounted on the wall or the ceiling.
Another accessory that would benefit the kindergarten classrooms would be a Canon-PowerShot 14.1-Megapixel Digital Camera. This camera is $199.99 with free shipping and handling from BestBuy. It includes a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, a battery charger, a USB cable and A/V cable, a wrist strap, a digital camera solution software CD-ROM, and an owner’s manual. This camera has a 4x/optical/4xdigital/16x total zoom, a 2.7`` LCD monitor, DIGIC 4 image processor, autofocus, and many more features that make it the ideal camera for the classroom. With this camera, the teacher could capture every moment that occurred in his or her classroom and be assured that the image is a high quality photo. The teacher could make memory books or slideshows of all the students for any occasion with the help of this technology. The total for these extra accessories would come to about $708.21 making the entire total equal about $2,946.09.

Assignment 3

My results from the cognitive style inventory test revealed that I was an ENFJ. This specific test said that I was slightly extraverted, had a slight intuitive personality, and a moderate feeling and judging personality. The category that I scored the highest in was the judging personality category. I scored a forty-four percent in this personality trait. My results from the learning style inventory test revealed that I had more of a social learning style than any of the other styles. I scored an eighteen out of twenty in the social style. My next to the highest scores were in the visual, verbal, and solitary learning styles. I scored an eleven out of twenty in these learning styles. I agree more with the learning style inventory test results than the cognitive style inventory test results because I am a very social person and love to learn or study in a group of people, but I also like to study alone as well. I do not believe that the results from the cognitive test are one hundred percent accurate because I do not feel like I have a judging personality. However, the next to highest personality trait was feeling and I am a very feeling oriented person. Overall, I believe that these results were fairly accurate. As a teacher, these results will help me because they allow me to see the areas I need to improve in order to have an effective classroom. For example, I scored the lowest in the logical style, which is essential to teaching; therefore, I need to improve in that area. As a learner, these results will help me apply my dominate learning styles with my personality traits to better improve the way I learn in a classroom. For example, I can combine my extraverted personality type with my verbal learning style and begin to ask questions when I do not understand a topic.

http://www.learning-styles-online.com/inventory/results.asp
http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes3.asp

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Technology in Education

In all of my years in school, technology has always been a key component to the teaching and learning process in the classroom. Although my memory of my elementary school years is somewhat blurry, I do recall my middle school through high school years and the technology that was used to enhance the way the material was presented. I haven’t had any experience in teaching or helping out in school, however, I do remember the types of technology used in my classes. The main tool that I remember seeing my teachers use was PowerPoint. It was used mainly for note taking, however, there were times when the students were assigned a project and it was to be presented as a PowerPoint to the class. I also remember one of my teachers assigning us a project that involved us using Photo Story. This type of technology in the classroom is called educational technology. Educational technology is the use of any form of technology that helps the teaching and learning process. The role of educational technology in teaching is to enhance the effectiveness of a teacher’s instruction to his or her students. Educational technology also plays a role in learning which is to help students better understand what is being taught in the class.

I feel that technology should be majorly integrated into teaching and learning because the use of technology has increased tremendously over the years. Because of social media, cell phones, hand held games, etc., children of all ages are becoming more experienced with technology; therefore teachers should as well. I think teachers should begin to make the material that they teach as interesting as possible so that it produces a positive response from the students. For example, instead of just simply standing up in the front of the room teaching the value of money to elementary students, they could use a computer game that creates a fun atmosphere for learning the value of money. This will not only keep their attention longer, but it will also enhance their knowledge of money and allow them to become more experienced with technology. For jr. and high school students, teachers could create a website that is inventive and appeals to them. Through this website, the teacher could make assignments and due dates more accessible to the students by alerts sent via text message or e-mail. Although I only listed two examples of how technology could be integrated into teaching and learning, there are numerous other ways to do this as well.  The fact that utilizing technology in the classroom produces a positive reaction from students is enough to want to incorporate as much of it as a teacher can. However, there are a few factors that discourage the use of technology in the classroom. The main discouragement is time. Teachers are only allowed a certain amount of time to teach and technology could be a hindrance. Another factor is that the type of technology a teacher uses could randomly have difficulties working and therefore prevent the class from learning.

All in all, educational technology is a great tool to help teachers conduct their classroom. Educational technology also aids students to learn in different ways. There are several factors that encourage technology in the classroom, however, there are also a few factors that interfere with the use of technology in the classroom. The integration of technology in teaching and learning is an excellent way for a teacher to enhance his or her effectiveness while administering.