REFLECTION #15-The Last One

What:
This week we arrived at our computer class to a little surprise-no using the computers. I have to say, I really don't like virus's, any kind but especially the computer kind. It worked out okay though. We spent about 30 minutes receiving instruction on our final assignment for the class. We will be creating a newsletter, a flyer or a brochure and we will be choosing two of the three.

So What:
I have actually had to create flyers many times. Ive used them to announce different things. I've made flyers announcing scouting activities, church activities, and even birthday parties. A few months back I made a flyer for the school carnival. It contained information on the carnival, like where it was and what time it was at and the cost. Then at the bottom there was a portion that could be torn off and sent back to school with the student. Knowing how to create a flier comes in really handy for things like this.

I've also made newletters in the past and they are definately more work that flyers are. I think knowing how to find and use a template would make it so much easier. The first time I went through college at the U of U, I was in a group that made the newsletter for a sorority and it was a lot of work. It took us a long time, particularly the first time, to get the format all set up how we wanted it. It was worth it though, because it is nice to be able to hand out a newsletter to everyone with announcements, info, recaps of things that have happened, special events and other things. Everyone liked looking at the newsletter. I think I could use newsletters for other things in my life right now too, like my sons' soccer team could have a newsletter, or we could have a newsletter at church. There are many different possibilities.

Now what:
There is no doubt, that teachers make flyers all of the time. Knowing how to make a flyer will be an invaluable tool for me as a teacher. I know that I will have to send home flyers announcing school activities, field trips, upcoming events and reminders. To be able to have a template or a master copy already made and just have to change information and graphics will make it much quicker of a project, and that is something that teachers always need.

It would also be fun to have a class newsletter. Parents like to know what is happening in their childs class. A newsletter can highlight things happening in class, give important dates to remember, congratulate students on accomplishments, and even provide some humor. I also think that a class blog would be fun but I don't know if I would want to do both. You would almost have to have the newsletter, for parents who don't have access to a computer. I guess you could put the newsletter on the blog, too. That is something I would have to think about.

I don't think that I would use a brochure that often. It provides more detailed information on one subject matter, I don't know what subject would require that much information that it would take a whole brochure. The thing I can think of right now is the summer camp that the 5th graders go on. That might have enough information to fill a whole brochure. It will be interesting to see some of my classmates final projects to see what information they put in a brochure.

Video:
I loved the 70's video! I'm sure that no student now is going to know who The Monkeys or Chubby Checker is, but it was still a great video. I think it did a great job describing what a noun is. One of the things that I've learned from these videos that we've had to watch, is that they are great supplementary tools for teachers. I wouldn't use just this video to teach nouns. I think it could be used as part of an introduction to nouns, or I think it could be used as a reward or a final part of the unit. It is funny and it makes you smile. Kids like that and if they are learning a little something too, that is even better.

REFLECTION #14

What:
No class this week, but still blogging. During the second part of our class on March 31 we talked about the use of video. We talked about video simulations, like on nationalgeographic.com. We discussed Youtube and Teachertube and we learned about Zamzar, which is an application that converts files without downloading software.

So What:
Many people watch the videos that are found on the internet, particularly on Youtube, just in everyday life. I think that it is mostly used for entertainment purposes, but there are other uses as well. One that I'm familiar with, is 'How To' videos. If I need to know how to do something, I can usually find a video clip on Youtube. For example, last week I was looking for some help on how to make fondant (for cakes). I asked around and did get some help from friends, but one friend told me that she found her recipe for fondant and advice on how to make it and use it from a video on Youtube. When I went to search on Youtube there were over 7 pages of videos that I could choose from. I'm sure I would get the same result with many different topics. Youtube is a great tool for anyone who is looking for instruction on how to do something.

The other great thing about Youtube, for me in my life right now, is that I can make my own video and post on Youtube. It is a great way to communicate or share information. Maybe I might have to be a little cautious with what I want to post, but in general it would be good. I could post video of my kids' soccer or baseball games. Other parents could do the same thing. If a parent missed a game or another family member wanted to see some of the game they could jump on Youtube and watch pretty easily. With just a digital camcorder and a little know how you can easily put a video on line.

Now What:
I have often wondered how a teacher could use video that is on Youtube or Teachertube, or other places on the internet, in the classroom. I know that most school districts are pretty strict about what they allow in the school. When my son was in 4th grade and in computers at his elementary school he did a search on BYU, that sent an alarm to the district. The district immediately called the school saying that someone was on an unauthorized site. Now, if BYU is not an approved site, then I'm sure that Youtube isn't going to be approved either. That is why I thought it was pretty cool to learn about Zamzar. As a teacher, I think I could use this all of the time. If I found something on Youtube that could help to teach something or that I thought was fun and appropriate, I could use this Zamzar to send it to my email and then be able to show the video clip. I think that is a really cool thing to know about. It is something I never would have known about if I hadn't taken this class.

It will be interesting to learn what the restrictions are on video, in the classroom. I guess it is different depending on the school district, but I'm sure there are some pretty strict guidelines. I know that teachers use video all of the time, but it would be great to have access to different and more modern video. The students would like the variety, too. I hope, that as a teacher, I am able to use video from places like teachertube or youtube, or to be able to use the video simulations if they are available on a subject we are learning about. Being able to actually see something instead of just talk about it helps students learn and makes education more diverse and enjoyable. I think it would be a great asset to me.

Video:
In the video for this week we saw some teenagers talking about what they think will be the future of technology. The first thing that I thought of was when I was a kid, we always thought that by the year 2000 cars would fly. The second thing I thought was that there was only one girl in the video. However, just because we are past the year 2000 and cars arn't flying, doesn't mean that people arn't still thinking about it. It is great to see teenagers thinking big and dreaming big. The possibilities, when it comes to technology, are endless. Technology is forever changing and some day it is likely that all of the things that those kids said would happen, will happen. Especially if there are kids out there who are dreaming big and then educating themselves and working hard to make those dreams a reality. I would have liked to see another girl in the video, it was okay though.

REFLECTION #13

What:
This week in class it was decided that we would cover two lessons in one day, and then have a free class next week to work on our own and not meet in class. We learned about podcasts, vidcasts and video and simulation. This week my blog will be on podcasts and vidcasts and next week my blog will cover the other topics.

So What:
Podcasts and Vidcasts are something completely new to me. Of course, I've heard of them, but really know very little about them. When Doc was asking how we could use podcasts, I really didn't have an answer. I know what an Ipod is, though I don't have one, and I know people who use Ipods to listen to podcasts all of the time. They use them for things like listening to news or talk shows, or listening to talks by speakers that they like. I think it would be really great to be able to have that available to me. I could listen to podcasts when I'm driving, or cleaning my house, or walking, or doing whatever. I would love to be able to listen to a motivational talk, or something entertaining. Something besides the same songs over and over again on the radio. Also, I would really love to learn Spanish, and I am thinking about taking a class in the fall. I think it would be a great benefit to me if I could enhance my studying by listening to a podcast.

I'm still a little unsure about vidcasts. If I'm understanding correctly, they are the same thing, except with video instead of just listening. Meaning, I guess, that you could watch the speaker who is giving a motivational talk. Someone in class mentioned using vidcasts to learn how to play the piano. I think, that I may have used a vidcast once, to learn how to make a greeting card. It was a video with step by step instructions, on a website that I was searching on. But, then what is the difference between video and vidcast? I'm not really sure of the answer.

Now What:
I think it would be really fun to use podcasts in class. What a fun way to use differentiated instruction. The students wouldn't even have to use it at home. They could listen at school, like in rotations or centers. I think that they would love to learn something by listening to a podcast. It could be on whatever topic we were learning. Science or poetry or whatever. I bet they would love to make their own podcasts as well. They could write a short story or poem, make the podcast and then the students could all listen to each others podcast. The possibilities of what they could use podcasts for are numerous, and kids love doing things like that. Anything with technology gets them excited.

Podcasts and vidcasts would be a great way for teachers to share lessons. Teachers could each be assigned to make a pod or vidcast on a certain topic, and then the info could be shared among the classes. It would be a great way for all of the students in the grade to get the same information, and a great way for teachers to work together. I really like the idea of using podcast. It gets me excited to teach something new and innovative and something that students will like and that can help teachers work together.

Video:
The video this week was called 'Why let our students blog?' It was a video with shots of kiddos on the computer and reasons why blogging helps them. I thought there were some good reasons. I think blogging can be a motivational tool, and a reward. I think it does give students a voice and lets them express their opinion. I agreed with pretty much all of the reasons that were given. I do have some concerns when it comes to a class blog, though. I think you would have to be very careful about what was posted. I don't know if you'd have to approve before posting or just monitor very carefully. I don't think I'd be willing to give students permission to blog at home. There would just be too many opportunities for things to be put on the blog that would be inappropriate. At school, though, in a controlled situation, I think students really could benefit and probably would really love blogging.

REFLECTION #12

What:
This week in class we talked about our assignment, to create a power point activity. I must admit, I was a bit confused by what we are doing. I think I understand now that we are creating a technical document on how to use power point for elementary age students. I hope I'm right.

So What:
So..... I don't know. I haven't really had a lot of experience with power point. The first time I went through college we didn't use power point (Yes, I'm old) and since then, I haven't had a need for it. I know that I could use it for class presentations, or to do any other kind of presentations, in my job, or anything else. Other people have told me that it is very easy to use and that there are fun options that can be done with it. I actually was kind of looking forward to doing the Power Point activity so that I could get some experience with it.

When the assignment was changed I was a little disappointed. I do think it is a great idea. I mean, we do want to be teachers, and that is why we are at school, so we should have to learn how to teach students. I just am nervous about the technical writing part of it. I really don't have any experience with technical writing, and I'm worried that what I write won't make sense or professionally won't be correct. I am glad that this is a team assignment so that we can help each other on it, but I think it would have been easier to stick with just doing the Power Point activity. I know, I know, we don't always get to do what we want, or what is easy. I'm sure I'll be telling my students that all the time when I am a teacher, so I'll just stop whining and be positive. I can do it!

Now What:
As a teacher, I'm quite certain that my students will be using Power Point. Really, it is a necessity that they learn how to use this program. If they can get the experience while they are young, doing school projects and reports, it will help them in the future with college or in a professional career. It will be up to me and my colleagues at the school to help teach students how to use this program along with other computer programs. The more experience that I have, the better able I will be to teach others. Which means, that I am going to have to get some experience using Power Point.

I think the assignment, to write the Power Point activity, will help me prepare to be able to teach students. Even though I'm feeling uncertain about it, I know that once it is done I will be better prepared to teach a Power Point activity. I will not feel so much concern because I will have had some experience. One added benefit, is learning to give instruction in a different way. Teachers always give verbal instruction, and really they have to, but some children learn better visually, and if they can see the instructions written out for them and can follow along they may do better on an assignment. Anything that will help me to be a better teacher, I'm willing to do, so with this assignment, I can only do my best and learn from it, so.... that's what I'll do.

Video:
The video this week Do You Believe in Me was one that I already watched. It was the video, I think, for the introduction week. With the cute kid who stood up in front of the big crowd of people and gave his speech. You can see blog entry #1 for my reflections.

REFLECTION #11

No blog this week! Happy Spring Break!

REFLECTION #10

Kidspiration

What:
This week in class we learned about the features of Kidspiration. We talked about ways that we could use it in the classroom, and we spent time working with the mind map feature.

So What:
What does Kidspiration mean to me now, as a student and as a parent? To be honest, I'm not sure that it means much. I guess, the knowledge that it is there and available is probably the most important thing that I can take from it. I am really glad to have learned about it, because I think that as a teacher, if I had access to it, I would use it. As a student now, I don't think that I would use it for anything or be willing to put forth the money to purchase the software. As a parent, if I had a struggling child and thought that maybe the program could help him at home, I might consider purchasing it. But, I would have to see that it would have benefits for my student, on a home basis. I can see that it would definately have great benefits at school. I also would have to spend some more time on it to really make an informed decision.

Now What:
Kidspiration is a great tool for teachers. There are so many things that could be done with it. The possibilities are endless. It is a great thing especially for visual learners, who need to see things before they connect them. Those students who need to see something organized so that they can process the information would really benefit from this program. If teachers could have access to it in the classroom, it would be great. I don't know how readily available it would be. I do think that the cost might be one obstacle that might have to be overcome. If that could be worked out, though, it would be great.

As a teacher, I could use this program to create lesson plans. I could use the mind map to outline what I want to teach, with the main point of the lesson, or objective from the curriculum, and then I could outline all the ways that I will teach that lesson. I could use Kidspiration as a teaching tool. If we were reading a book we could develop characters, and see how they were related, or talk about themes of the book and how they were related. We could use the mind map to show the relationship. I think it would be really fun, too, if we had access to it in the classroom, it could be a reward activity for fast finishers, or for those who are doing what they are supposed to do. It would also be fun for the students to be able to work on a project in such a fun way. They have reports and assignments that they have to do, and they always have to use paper and pencil, but what a great idea, to use Kidspiration for those students. They would enjoy the assingment more, and may get more out of it from being able to do it differently. Also, for those students who have some kind of special need, Kidspiration is a great form of differentiated instruction. I can see so many possibilities with it.

Video:
Per Doc Waters-no video this week.

REFLECTION #9

What:
This week in class we were suppose to learn about kidspiration. Class was canceled because Doc Waters has strep throat. Assuming I still have to do a blog for this week, what should I blog about?

So What:
Well, I emailed Doc to ask if we still needed to complete the assingment on our own. She said, "no" so I don't know what Kidspiration is about. I do know what strep throat is about though. My son always got strep throat when he was young and finally it became so bad that he had to have his tonsils removed. I had never had it, so I felt bad for him, but couldn't really empathize with him. That was, until I got it myself. WOW! That was probably the sickest I've ever been, maybe tied with the one time I had food poisoning, but I was pretty sick. Fever, body aches, the sorest throat you can imagine. Couldn't get out of bed for two days. Totally ignored by kids. Horrible. So now, when people tell me they have strep, I cringe inside. I feel so bad for them because I know just how horrible it is!

Now What:
Well, I can't speak from experience yet, but I know that teachers are exposed to a lot of sicknesses and stuff. I've heard that in the first year of teaching you can catch a lot of colds and other stuff. I don't look forward to getting colds, coughs, pink eye, strep throat, stomach aches, lice, etc. etc. Thank goodness for antibacterial hand sanitizer and sinks in the class room. Oh well, just part of the job I guess. I won't let the fear of a few little bugs stop me from becoming a teacher, but if I do catch something, thank goodness we get sick days!

Video:
I did watch the video that was assigned for this week, and I didn't really like it. I mean, I do think that there was some truth to the things that were portrayed. I just didn't like the presentation. I don't like to watch these things when they concentrate on the negative. China is better than we are, we have less people, blah, blah, blah. I mean, yes, it is important to educate children to be the leaders of tomorrow, but isn't that what teachers have done ever since there were teachers? I agree, too, that we do have to teach them in different ways, particularly using technology. I just think that clips like these could have a more positive spin on them.

REFLECTION #8

Picasa

What:
In class we were supposed to learn about Picasa. Because the computers were not cooperating with us in the lab, we didn't really get to experiment with it very much. I did get some pictures downloaded and was able to see how you can manipulate your photos.

So What:
Being able to have all of your pictures in one place is great, and being able to edit, crop, change and distort photos is fun. I would like to be able to spend some more time using Picasa and learning about all of its great features before I make a decision on whether I like it or not. I'm not even sure of all of the ways that I can use it, since it didn't really work great in class. I will have to download in on my home computer so I can actually use it and learn about it, and then I'll be able to make a more informed decision.

When I told a friend that I would be learning about Picasa, she told me that she uses it all of the time. She takes pictures of her sons' soccer team and then puts them on Picasa. She shares them with all the players on the team. They can all get on there and see the pictures that she has taken. She said that she loves it because it is easy to share with others, and it's free! This is a feature that I would love, too. With my kids involved in sports and scouts and other activities it would be great to be able to take and share pics with other parents and have them do the same for me.

Now What:
How will Picasa help me as a future teacher? I'm not really sure yet. Of course, anything that creates a way to share and collaborate with other teachers is a great tool. Using Picasa in conjunction with a digital camera to teach could be really good. I haven't made a final decision on it yet. That doesn't mean that I'm writing it off, I'm just going to do some more research and discover the great things that Picasa has to offer for myself, then I'll decide whether I will use it when I'm a teacher, or not.

Video:
This weeks video was funny. I liked how he not only talked about mistakes that you can make on a power point, but then he showed them while he was talking about it. It was funny, because everyone has seen power point presentations like the ones he was talking about, and many people have even made power point presentations like those. We laugh because we see the mistakes and we know we've made them, too. It did make me think though. When I make power points in the future, I will probably remember this funny clip. If I try to make a slide with too many graphics, I know that his will pop into my mind. It took him an hour and a half to make the one slide and it was too much. His busy, crazy slide will remind me not to make the same mistake.

REFLECTION #7

Digital Cameras

What:
This week we talked about using digital cameras in the classroom. We had the opportunity, as a team, to use digital cameras to take pictures of a subject that we could teach in our classroom. We also read some articles and searched for websites about digital camera use in the classroom.

So What:
There are so many great things about digital cameras, and not just for educators. First, they are so easy to use. After making sure that you have a full battery and a memory card, all you have to do is point and shoot. One of my favorite things about digital cameras is that you can take as many pictures as your memory card will hold. When I had a 35mm camera, I was always having to be careful about how much film I had and be careful that I wasn't going to run out. Not a problem with digital cameras! I can take as many pictures of the elephants at the zoo (or whatever) as I want to, and if I do fill my memory card up I can insert another, or quickly go through and delete a few picutes that I might not want. It's great!

As a parent, I use digital cameras all the time to document the lives of my family. I also use a digital camera to entertain my kids. When they are bored at a soccer game or something, I give them the camera and they take pictures of trees, their feet, the head of a guy 20 feet away, whatever. It doesn't matter, because I just delete it later. No film wasted, and a few minutes of peace and quiet. I love it! As a student and future teacher, there are many things that I can do when it comes to digital cameras. I can start to learn about programs that are available for editing photos. I can research more ways that teachers have used digital cameras and start to keep a list of ideas, websites or links. I can keep a record on my UEN so that I will always have access to it. I can start taking pictures when I travel, or when I see something that I think might be interesting or educational for future students. I can carry the camera with me all the time so when the opportunity comes, I am ready.

Now What:
As a teacher, I know that I will use a digital camera in my classroom. I always thought that I would because it it so easy to use and kids love to see pictures of themselves and their class. The thing I've learned, is that there are so many ways to use a digital camera. More than just documenting fun things that happened, which is what I would have used it for. Now I know that the possibilities are endless when it comes to using a digital camera. I love the idea of using a camera to make books, power points, posters, etc. If I am teaching a subject like addition I could use pictures that I've taken as a center where students would count objects in the picture and add them to the same object in another. I also think it would be fun to have reward centers or fast finisher activities like making a 'Where's Waldo' or 'Where's _______' (whatever) book. As a teacher, I think I would love to let students use digital cameras to make projects, plays, or take pictures for other things.

I would love to be able to share photos with other teachers and have them share with me as well. Especially, if we discussed at the beginning of the year, or in meeting, a topic that we might be going to teach. All teachers could be on the lookout for photo opportunities that would help teach that topic. We could share the photos, and all the students in that grade level would get to see the same photos as they learned that unit. Digital camera use is another great way for teachers to work together.

The one concern that I do have, and I guess I would have to research it, is privacy or confidentialilty rules. I do wonder if it is okay to have pictures of students. I know that at the beginning of the year I have to give permission for my kids to have their picture used in certain situations at school. The principal or district would probably be able to tell me what the regulations are if there are any. I guess I would just have to be cautious of that and ask questions if I was worried.

Video:
Was the point of the videos to see what you can do with digital cameras?

The videos were pretty entertaining. I think that the point of watching them was to show that through editing you can make some fun projects. Like the David Letterman one, I really thought we were going to watch David Letterman. Then it switched to someone else's video clip. It was cool how they kept switching back and forth from Letterman to their own homemade top 10 list. Plus it was kind of funny. I liked the one about wipes becoming your best friend. As far as the 'Mashup' video goes, it was entertaining but a little overwhelming. I liked how they used the different windows so you were seeing 4 or 5 or more different people playing at the same time. Honestly though, it just made me feel overwhelmed. The thought of creating a project like that is overwhelming because I don't know how. It will be fun to learn how to do stuff like that. Perhaps with practice and a lesson or two I'll be able to edit cool things with a digital camera, too. Who knows?

REFLECTION #6

INTERNET SAFETY

The internet is really a must in educating children today. There are so many great things about the internet, and I think that not using the internet would put students at a disadvantage. Using the internet gives us access to more information than we can ever use. It's true that some information is unnecessary and even harmful, but there is so much that is good. It brings another dimension to teaching and to learning. Research is at our fingertips. Games and activities allow students to practice the things they learn in the classroom. Communication like email allow us to learn about other cultures and to speak to people around the world. The internet opens up the world to us, in a way that books can't. The benefits are endless, as long as we are aware of the risks.

Whether students use the internet at school or not, it is almost certain that they will use it at home. That is why it is so important, as teachers, that we educate are students on the importance of being safe on the internet. I think that we as educators must learn how to recognize and use good websites, and then pass that information on to our students, so that students can make wise choices as well. When I come across a website that I am unfamiliar with I ask myself the following questions before I decide to use the information I find there.

-Who is the sponsor of this website? How did I link to it? Is it easy to find again?
-What is the URL? Are there any red flags? Is it a personal website?
-How does the information make me feel? Do I doubt anything that I'm reading?
-Are there too many advertisements? What are the advertisements?
-Is the website secure? Do I see a lock symbol on the bottom of the page?

If I have any doubts when I think of these questions, then I choose not to use the website. If the website passes my scrutiny, then I feel confident that I can recommend it to my students. I will encourage students to ask themselves these same questions as they surf the internet. If they know the reasons why they need to be careful, and then they know how to be careful, they will be armed with the ability to make good choices. I will also encourage them to always follow rules that are set by their parents and by the school, and to always ask questions if they are unsure. After they have been taught, I believe they will be ready to use the internet safely.

Video:
This week I watched the video Internet Safety Movie. I believe it was made by 7th grade students, and if that is the case then I think they did a really good job. I like how they had taken the pictures of kids on the computer and I liked how they presented the information. I think that they touched on the important things when it comes to internet safety. They came up with good rules that, when followed, would keep them and others safe on the internet. What I really learned from this video though, is that it is a great idea to have students research internet safety and do some kind of project on it. When they present the information, rather than just listening to a teacher lecture on it, they learn more and are more apt to remember the information. I think that assigning a project like that has great value for the student.

REFLECTION #5- UEN

UEN REFLECTION

Through completing the assignment for this week, I learned that there is a wealth of information and resources for teachers, students and parents on the UEN website. The amount of information is almost overwhelming. I learned about so many things that a teacher would have access to, that opens up just with the entering of a password. Not only that, but so many more things that I don't even know about yet. I think it will take many hours of using the website to come close to learning everything that UEN offers, but I can already see many benefits of the web site and I will definately use it both as a parent and as a teacher.

There are so many things on UEN that I could use as a teacher. I love that the state curriculum is available and right at your fingertips. I imagine, as a teacher I would use this feature all of the time. It is so great that not only the standards and objectives are listed right there for you, but that also there are lesson plans and links available. I love the links, which give you access to wonderful games and other tools. I think that the availabiltiy of the lessons plans and links would be invaluable to me as a new teacher. It would help me to be prepared with a variety of instructional tools. I also think it is great that if you want a video or some other form of media, it is there in the emedia section of the Pioneer Library. Even better than just being there, is that you can search based on grade or state curriculum and find age and level appropriate material. These are just a couple of examples. There are just so many things available to teachers on UEN.

As a parent, I think that UEN is wonderful. I love that I can get on the web site and see what my kids are suppose to be learning in their grades, according to state core. At home we could utilize many different things to enhance the education they are getting at school. If a teacher gave my child access to the Pioneer Library we could use that to do research. It is so much better than just surfing the web because I, as a parent, don't have to be right there monitoring websites. I know that the Pioneer Library is a safe place for my children.

UEN is a great tool for teachers and would definately benefit parents. Even better though, is the great benefit it would have for students. At home students could use the interactives to reinforce what they are learning at school. For example, if we were working on subtraction at school, I could ask the students to practice at home using a math interactive on UEN, like Hoots Subtraction Game. At school we could use UEN as well. Students could watch videos, or do research or play games. I love the idea of having a computer in the class room and having UEN as a reward for fast finishers or those doing what they are suppose to be doing. I could let them play a game, or even better, I could have them look for something, just like we've had to do with this assignment. For example, something that happened on this date in history. That would be interesting and constantly changing. They could find some fact about Utah, or even the fun fact of the day. There are so many options for students and it would really enhance their education.

VIDEO:
The video this week was entertaining and thought provoking. I think that he had a point, in some ways. Public school probably does tend to lesson creativity. Teachers are often so worried about just getting through each day. They have to teach the required curriculum well enough that their students will pass their end of year exam, and they have to teach to so many different students who learn in so many different ways. And, they have to teach while they are dealing with discipline issues. Teachers have a diffiuclt job, so I can understand why they teach the way they do. There isn't enough time in a school day to teach required core and expect that each kid will have dance or art in their day as well. A good teacher may be able to figure out a way to include a wide variety of things that enhance creativity. I'll have to give that some thought, so I can try to include creativity in my classroom. I agreed with him, that we do tend to teach kids to think only one way, he called it something like 'up and slightly to one side'. As a teacher, I want to try to help students learn in many different ways and try to encourage their creativity.

REFLECTION #4

WHAT:
This week in class we started learning about UEN and some of the features that it provides for teachers and students. We created a UEN account and started a personal and a public page.

SO WHAT:
To be honest, I'm still a little unsure how UEN will be a benefit to me in my life. I know that on the main website you can do searches. I know that there is access to distance education, which I did use last semester, but it was from the TV channel and not the website. I am sure that there are many more uses that would be a benefit for me, and I'm hoping that when we continue this subject next week in class and as I use the website, that I will learn more about the benefits.

NOW WHAT:
The one thing that I think is really cool that I learned this week in class, is how a teacher can use UEN to have students do research for projects. I think it is a great idea, to be able to give a topic that has to be researched, and then give a safe place for students to search for information. As a teacher, I can see how that could be really useful. It could be used for projects and research papers. Parents would love the idea of having a safe place for their students to do searches, and may feel more comfortable knowing that their student is on a safe website.

I look forward, this week, to finding out more about the positive uses of UEN, and how it will benefit me as a teacher.

VIDEO:
I watched President Obamas speech back in September, and watching it again this week, I have the same reaction. I'm sure that there was probably some political agenda involved in some way, but regardless, I think he gave a great speech. I think it was uplifting and positive, which every student needs to hear. I thought it was great how he encouraged students to take responsibility for themselves. I think, whatever your political opinion, that it is important to listen to the President, and teach students to be respectful of the office, and I think it is just as important for the President to show respect to the students. He did a good thing by motivating them and telling them that he cares about them and that he expects them to do good things. By speaking to students he showed that he believes education is important, and that can only be good for our country, our teachers and our students.

REFLECTION #3

WHAT:
In class we continued our introduction to Google. We talked about spreadsheets and their many uses. We learned how to create a form and we learned how to use Google Presentation to create a slide show.

SO WHAT:
I like the spread sheet option. I used Excel quite a bit just in my everyday life. I use it to track expenses, and income and balance my check book. What's great is that Google spreadsheet is just like Excel. I can use formulas, I can keep track of things from year to year and compare them, and Google spread sheet has that same benefit as Google doc in that it can be brought up on any computer. I can see how this feature, like Google Calendar, could help keep my family up to date.

The Google presentation feature is very cool and a little overwhelming for me. I haven't ever made a power point so I was a little nervous. However, I really like it and I as I learn more about how to use it, I think it will really be a benefit to me. I could see how it could help in preparing school assignments or presentations. It would be great if I had to give a presentation at work. It would even help if I had to give some kind of presentation at church. I'm thinking maybe I'll even make a presentation of rules for my kids. When they are misbehaving I can say, "Hey! Go watch the rules slide show." :) The one thing I don't really understand, is how to run the slide show, so a large group could view it. I guess you would have to have some kind of connection.

NOW WHAT:
Hopefully, my classroom would have that kind of a connection. That way, when I prepared a presentation on my computer, I could then have it viewed on a screen up in front of the class. If it did have that capability, I think I would use Google Presentation quite a bit in my classroom. I could teach new subjects with it. I could use it for reminders, or schedules of the day. I could even teach the students how to make their own presentation. It would be so easy for them to start a project at school, work on it at home, and show me the finished product at school. Because it is on the internet, there is no need for saving things, or transferring information. I think it is fantastic that everything you do is just there and ready to be edited at your convenience. This and Google Doc would be great tools to use in any classroom.

Using the spreadsheet feature is really handy as well. As a teacher I could use it to keep track of grades and track progress. I could use it to keep information handy. It would be great because you could have information for every student on one page, or one page for each student with different information. If all of the teachers in the school were willing to use it, then we could track student progress from year to year as well.

I think the form feature is a good feature, but I would have to play with it a little more to decide whether I would use it more or not. Teachers send home forms all of the time for students, so I know it could be really handy. If you had a lot of tech savvy parents who were willing to get on a computer and fill out a form then that would be great. Most probably would be fine with it. I anticiapte that some parents would prefer the old-fasion way. But I do love that the option is there, and I also love that using it would save trees!

VIDEO:
I loved this weeks video, I am what I learn! The filming was so creative. It really kept me watching, to see what the kid was going to do next, as he walked through the house and signed things. I loved when he took a drink and told the kid to get 'get out of here'. He was very confident and sure of himself, and he had a great attitude. Not only was the filming idea great, but his message was wonderful. I like how he talked about how careers in the arts (like film directing) and sports need an education as well. I think a lot of times kids think some kinds of jobs don't require an education. I think this movie reminds us that no matter what dream you have or what career you are choosing, you should seek an education first. That getting a good education will only help you on your way.

REFLECTION #2

WHAT:
This week in class we learned about some of the great things that Google has to offer. They were iGoogle, Google Calendar and Google Docs. They have many great features, but one of the best ones is that they are free if you have access to the internet.

SO WHAT:
One of the first things that I thought would be the most benefit to me in using these tools, is that they are available anywhere that you have access to a computer. Unless you have a laptop, it is hard to do work at home and then try to bring it to school and use the computer lab. You can transport the information on a flash drive but you take the chance of losing the information, or not having what you need saved on it. Google Doc especially is nice because not only is what you are working on there and saved, but being able to work with others on the same document is very nice. It could save me time with group projects because you don't necessarily have to meet as a group face to face. This is particularly appealing for me right now, because I am not at UVU except for when I have class, and because of my family and other commitments, it is hard for me to be at the school more than I am. This could make group projects very difficult for me, but with Google Doc I don't have to worry about that as much. It really helps to reduce some stress.

I love the Google Calendar feature as well. I could see how my husband and I could easily coordinate our schedule. It is difficult for us to be on the same page some times because we are coming and going and we have different things that we are involved with right now. The family calendar, with my schedule, my husbands schedule, and our three kids schedule, is very full. If he and I used Google Calendar we could both be up to date all of the time, and we wouldn't have to be at home to check things, but could just jump on the computer and look it up. I love that idea. I'm still unsure about using Google calendar for other things, like family reunions. I guess the one disadvantage is that everyone that you need to coordiante with would have to have a Google account or Gmail account. Some people are unwilling to change. Like me, I would never had switched from Yahoo, had I not been required in this course, which is sad because I would have really missed out on some great features.

NOW WHAT:
I definatelty think that using these tools from Google will help as a teacher in the future. Having the same home page through iGoogle, both at home and in the classroom, could save time. Teachers are always short on time. They have so much to do in the day and so many students and parents to think of. Not only that, but they have their own lives and familys and schedules as well. The calendar will be a great tool as well, for keeping things organized. As a teacher, I would use these tools to keep myself on schedule. If my colleagues were willing, we could use Google Calendar to keep our team organized and to keep our schedules in line as much as we needed to. I think these are great features that could benefit me as a teacher if I implemented them.

Choosing to use the other two features is great and could give some benefits, but I think you could get by without them if you needed to. I don't think that is so with Google Doc. I feel like it would really make a team of teachers better if they chose to use and share with this program. Being able to access other information and ideas from teachers in my department and school will save time and stress. It will allow me to be a better teacher, and it will allow all of the teachers on my team and in my school to be better because we will be working together. Also, it will be so fun to teach students how to use this feature. As a teacher of a lower grade, like 2nd grade, I might not require them to do a group project with Google Doc, but I would like them to use it and see how it works. This way, when they get into the upper grades and are required to do a project, they would already have seen it. Plus, I'm 34 now and I got all excited when my document was edited right there in front of me. It was fun, and I know that 7 and 8 year olds would think that was AWESOME!

VIDEO:
I enjoyed the video clip I am what I learn. I think that the young lady who made the video is talented, and that she not only told us that film was her passion, but showed us that passion as well, in her video. I liked how she first talked about what her passion was, and that she wanted to do something with her life. It was after that, when she told about the hard things that she was going through. She is not letting those hardships define who she is. I think she is a great example to other students who also might have difficult circumstances, that they can still have a dream and a desire to do something with their lives. The video would be a great motivator for students. I wonder if you can show things like this in the classroom, or maybe you have to get permission from the principal. I don't know what the rules are on that, but it would be great to be able to show a clip in class that would motivate students to be better, and to do their best instead of making excuses to why they can't.

REFLECTION #1: My Ideal Classroom

The ideal classroom for me is a 2nd grade class in a typical American elementary school. It would be the kind of school where the principal is kind to students and staff and involved and approachable. It would be the kind of school where staff and teachers work together, our open to new ideas and who listen without beind defensive and try each day to become better for their students and for themselves. It would not be a perfect school. There would be challenges and difficulties but the teachers, students and parents would work together to get through those challenges so that they could learn. Overcoming challenges would make the students and the school stronger. It would be the kind of school where parents would not only have the desire to be involved but would take action on that desire. They would volunteer in the classroom, they would be involved with the PTA, and they would help their children both in and out of school to succeed academically. My ideal classroom would be full of light. I love light and the feelings that it gives. There would a wall or maybe two walls filled with windows that let in natural light. Those windows would have automatic shades that could be drawn at the push of a button to allow less light as needed. I love organization. My ideal classroom would be filled with colorful cupboards, cabinets, shelves, and drawers. They would be labeled and neatly arranged so students could easily find what they need and then return things to the correct place when done. Each student would have a desk with space that was their own. Giving students their own space will help them feel like they belong and that the classroom is theirs too. The students would use their desks for some work and then their would also be an area with a round or kidney bean table for group work. There would be another group work area that would be comfortable, with a nice rug and bean bag or other soft chairs for group work and reading. There would be a technology corner with a couple of computers, a TV and DVD set up and a CD player for listening to books on tape and other audio. My ideal classroom would have a great teacher work area with plenty of space and organizational tools. In my ideal classroom all students would feel not only welcome but needed. They would be able to leave the worries that they have at home and outside of school at the door. They would come into a classroom where they are important, and where they are expected to be responsible. They would be accountable for their choices and would see consequences for both good and bad choices. There would be routines and rules that need to be followed and their would be rewards for obedience and good behavior. There would be a lot of work. They would have to learn the core curriculum, but I would teach in many different ways so that each student could be successful. I would work together with my team, my students and my parents so that all of my students would learn the things that they needed to and so that they could see that they were successful and feel proud of themselves and of our class.

Video:

I enjoyed the video Do you believe in me. My very first thought was who wrote that speech for this kid, because I don't believe that he wrote it. But, whether he wrote it or not, he did a great job delivering it. He was vocal and animated and very entertaining to watch. It made me smile to watch him walk around that stage shouting "Do you believe...". It was a wonderful motivational speech. He made me really want to do better, and I'm not even a teacher yet. I'm sure that being in the audience was even more powerful and hopefully it really encouraged the school staff and teachers to want to be better for themselves, their students, and their colleagues. My favorite part was him talking about how he needed them to believe in him and in his classmates, because sometimes that is all they have. I was even a little teary eyed, especially when he said that they were doing the most important job in the city and they were making a difference for those students. I thought it was well worth it to watch that clip.