Currently being in the field of education, I foresee myself remaining in an educational setting once I have completed this program. For the time being, I hope to remain in a classroom setting, rather than taking a position as an IT Facilitator. Who knows if I will feel this way in a year or even a week though. Even if I remain in the classroom, the knowledge I gain from this experience will help me become not only a better teacher, but also a resource and inspiration to my peers. I hope to stay hungry for knowledge in changes in the field of IT, as well as implementing all that I have learned. I hope to become an example of how to integrate technology into my instruction.
If I do decide to leave the classroom setting, I would like to be a Technology Facilitator at an elementary school. I would enjoy working with teachers interested in implementing technology into their instruction, and helping them find the resources necessary to do this successfully and assist with the planning of their instruction. I would also enjoy learning about the new gadgets out there that could improve instruction.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Instructional Media and Instructional Methods
I guess you could say I am interested in media formats in general. The ones that interest me the most are the ones I feel I can effectively use with elementary aged kids-since that is who I work with.
Some of the instructional media devices that I use on a regular basis are computers, internet, and a Smart board. I have 3 student computers and one teacher computer in my classroom. I also have access to a computer lab and a laptop cart with 24 laptops computers. Instructionally, I use the computers for word processing, power point, Internet research, and as a resource-among other things. As part of a recent unit on roller coasters, I had the students use the laptops to research the history of roller coasters and their design. I also had them go to two different websites where they could construct a virtual roller coaster. This lesson was an example of both demonstration and discovery learning. The students could create their own coaster and discover what ideas to would most likely work, and which ones wouldn’t when building their own roller coasters. I have found that having the students do the online exploration makes their actual coaster designing much more successful.
I also have a Smart board that I use regularly for different things. A few of the things I use it for are lecture and demonstration. I often present my notes via the Smart board. I prefer this method of note-taking because the notes are neat, I can use graphics, and if a student is absent, I can quickly print them a copy of the notes with any afterthoughts we added during the lesson. I can also use the Smart board for demonstration since I can navigate through websites freely and show videos from a number of sources.
There are a number of instructional media devices I have not tired yet, but look forward to using. Our school’s IT is currently doing training on Photostory, a program where students can create mini movies. I would love to have students present research in this form rather than just the paper pencil method. I also hope to start using wikis. I think they could be a great way for students to group work and peer teaching by discussing novels they are reading. Another media device I look forward to using for individualized instruction is a form of Ebooks that our school has purchased. These are hand held devices-similar to an iPods-where students can listen to books read aloud. This will be a great resource for my students trying to learn to English language, or students reading below grade level.
I am sure there are many more devices out there, and I look forward to advances in future instructional media devices that will add to my instructional methods.
Some of the instructional media devices that I use on a regular basis are computers, internet, and a Smart board. I have 3 student computers and one teacher computer in my classroom. I also have access to a computer lab and a laptop cart with 24 laptops computers. Instructionally, I use the computers for word processing, power point, Internet research, and as a resource-among other things. As part of a recent unit on roller coasters, I had the students use the laptops to research the history of roller coasters and their design. I also had them go to two different websites where they could construct a virtual roller coaster. This lesson was an example of both demonstration and discovery learning. The students could create their own coaster and discover what ideas to would most likely work, and which ones wouldn’t when building their own roller coasters. I have found that having the students do the online exploration makes their actual coaster designing much more successful.
I also have a Smart board that I use regularly for different things. A few of the things I use it for are lecture and demonstration. I often present my notes via the Smart board. I prefer this method of note-taking because the notes are neat, I can use graphics, and if a student is absent, I can quickly print them a copy of the notes with any afterthoughts we added during the lesson. I can also use the Smart board for demonstration since I can navigate through websites freely and show videos from a number of sources.
There are a number of instructional media devices I have not tired yet, but look forward to using. Our school’s IT is currently doing training on Photostory, a program where students can create mini movies. I would love to have students present research in this form rather than just the paper pencil method. I also hope to start using wikis. I think they could be a great way for students to group work and peer teaching by discussing novels they are reading. Another media device I look forward to using for individualized instruction is a form of Ebooks that our school has purchased. These are hand held devices-similar to an iPods-where students can listen to books read aloud. This will be a great resource for my students trying to learn to English language, or students reading below grade level.
I am sure there are many more devices out there, and I look forward to advances in future instructional media devices that will add to my instructional methods.
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