Technology Integration the Sky is the Limit!

     Creating lesson plans that integrate technology is not a difficult task!  We love technology and look forward to utilizing it in our lessons.  Technology is captivating and useful.  It attracts the attention of students in a way that is unique to anything else.  Attention is the number one cognitive tool for proper learning and knowledge retention.  If you use technology in your lesson then you know that you have laid a sure foundation for proper cognitive learning and memory storage.

     Using technology in the classroom can be as simple as using a DVD player, or as complex, as using a Tablet PC demonstrating flash animation visuals, via power point, while jotting  down notes for the students in the margins projected up on the big screen.  It can be using an inquiry lesson to teach science and letting each student document their findings on digital cameras. Technology does not have to mean difficult.  In fact, in many ways it can mean simplify!  Using technology in the classroom also means synergy.  It creates an opportunity for teamwork like no other tool Google Docs and presentation accommodate team work nicely.  It even lets the synergy happen half way across the world using skype.

     In my classroom I will use a smart board, cell phones, ipods, digital cameras, and more.  I will engage students in the ways they enjoy learning.  I will use e-mail, and websites to communicate to students and parents.  You can look for my class on youtube because we will be there.  So if you'll excuse me...it looks like I better get busy contacting sponsors!!   

Tapping Into the Power of Emotion with Digital Stories

     Digital Stories are emotional to watch and can even be emotional to make.  As we have collected the visuals for our digital story, I have been amazed at my reaction to some of the pictures.  I have looked into the eyes of some of the pictures and pondered about what this persons life must have been like.  This has led me to ask questions about what happened in that particular event or time period and reflect on the story behind the picture.  I have incorporated some of the stories into my personal philosophy of life as reference to the way we should live and why.  I did not expect to have this reaction or take this emotional journey but I am glad that I have incorporated this experience as the digital story assignment unfolded.  

      Having this reaction has taught me how valuable this could be in the classroom.  To have students create their own digital story will be an effective learning tool for students.  I am amazed at how much we learned doing this assignment.  Students could learn a lot by creating a message that they feel strongly about.  Doing it together as a class would be fun and then in groups.  This way they have the initial experience.  After that I would open it up and assign it as an individual project.  I think it is a valuable lesson and I would love to see what the students come up with.  

     I will learn as much as possible to feel confident in taking this on as a teacher.  I would need to make several digital stories myself.  These are great hooks for lessons so the time would serve two purposes.  I would love to feel confident and execute my plan even if I teach the younger grades.  It's never too soon to teach a valuable lesson.

VIDEO:  I looked up two new videos and liked the message of one called "Technology in the Classroom" on youtube.  It says that technology opens minds with a new set of keys.   The second video I watched was called "Classroom Technology Demonstration."  The demonstration was given by a teacher who said that the projector alone has transformed his classroom because now there is no front or back of the classroom.  The teacher can be anywhere in the class and teach effectively with the projector.  He compared it to going from the black and white television to colored.  He demonstrated how by using a Tablet PC it is possible to use Flash Animation to show an animated visual in powerpoint and write notes along side it for the students you are teaching. He emphasizes individualizing the learning.  He said this is possible with this type of teaching.  Students are able to download the lesson on to their video ipods and review and study at their convenience.  He gave an example of a field trip the students went on and took digital pictures of different biomes which he felt enhances student education with hands on learning.  Not to mention how much the students loved the experience.    

We will miss Aspen Elementary!!

Video:  Vision for technology in K-12 Education by Microsoft

     The video I chose this week was made by Microsoft and it gave a glimpse of the possibilities when technology is incorporated in education.  A student checks her messages on her ipod touch.  She gets on her computer and gets the e-mail and vid-cast sent by her teacher.  He sent text info about the fieldtrip and pictures of the venue.  When they got back to the classroom they downloaded the pictures they took on the fieldtrip on to a surface computer.  The students were able to poll their opinions on electronic devices and create awesome reports on their laptops with writing pads.  They have chat correspondence with teachers to get after hour answers to their questions. Parent teacher conferences are held with the teachers showing the parents the students work on surface computers.  This was a great video showing a range of the possibilities... now if we only get the funding!

 

     This was our last week with the students at Aspen Elementary.  We learned so much from our experience and it is hard to say goodbye.  It was amazing to see a fourth grade classroom in action on a daily basis.  We watched the students and how they reacted to technology in the classroom and in their technology class.  They love technology and are excited to see it used and learn to use it themselves.  When we used powerpoint in our lessons the studentsreacted positively.  They also liked when their teacher showed them their grades on the computer.  They responded positively to music on the computer or sound system and they loved their computer specialty class. 

     This is encouraging for my anticipation to teach my own class.  Students need transition physically and they also need transition intellectually.  Technology provides this.  When they go to print their papers in Miss West's technology class, the students were just beaming with pride in their success to publish their work on the computer.  When the music played on the sound system the students often wanted the music to play longer and would sing and dance to it if the teacher consented to let it run a little longer.  Technology is an outlet for students and they love when it is utilized.  

     I have felt encouraged to utilize technology in my classroom because of our experience in Miss Fletcher's fourth grade class.  I will use powerpoint just like the speaker at the assembly in the media-center.  I will encourage students to publish works of their own on the computer, I will use every avenue that is offered so that the students will be encouraged to feel comfortable with technology in a safe environment of learning and exploring technological options.

Fabulous Field Experiences at Ms. Fletcher's Fourth Grade Class

     This week was lesson week for Katrina Andrus and I. With our power points polished we were prepared and sooo excited!   Our lessons were focused on the life of the Navajo past and present.  Katrina started off with a powerpoint to allow the students the benefit of the visual aid to show the students how Navajo lived, what they wore, and ate.  The technology used in the first lesson got us off to a great start.  We were able to expand on how the Navajo lived in the past and then move on to teaching about their traditions from there.

     On through the week we taught about how the Navajo held on to their traditions from the past to the present.  We were able to show a new DVD on the projector screen, made by KUED, called "We Shall Remain."  We used a computer, projector screen, and speakers to show this amazing portrayal of the Navajo people.  We played authentic Navajo music on the computer with speakers.  I had downloaded a CD onto the desktop for easy access during the lesson.  Our students were able to find the beat and rhythm to the Navajo music that was very different to music that they normally hear.

     To teach the lesson on the influences the Navajo life has impacted Utah, we used a powerpoint to show the students that they have things in common with the way the Navajo people live today.  We had them make a check mark every time they were shown a picture of the Navajo modern lifestyle, when it resembled something similar in their life, on their individual white boards.  From this power-point the students were able to see the modern day life of the Navajo and understand things we have in common.  From the lessons we prepared, we learned how important technology is for students to be able to benefit from the visual and auditory experiences of the subject we are teaching.  This was an amazing experience! 

VIDEO:  "Cool Schools: Western Hills Design Technology High School" and "Napa New Technology High School 1997" are two youtube videos that feature two high schools who have integrated technology as a main focus in the education of their students.  The students learn to be efficient in sharing documents, email, internet, spreadsheets, and more.  Technology is the schools form of internal communication, saving time, and the schools continue to add data bases.  The schools are able to create their yearbooks digitally and post them online for student access.   They e-mail their teachers their assignments and learn the base curriculum of high school from a digital format.  They work in teams and the teachers say that the best thing they learn is confidence and from there the learning and skills will follow.  

Video: Cyber Summit on 21st Century Skills Kansas: Technology Rich Classroom Project

     The video on Youtube called Cyber Summit on 21st Century Skills: Kansas Technology Rich Classroom Project showed how teaching technology in their school has made a positive impact on students in their school.  It discussed the attitude of the Technology teacher who felt that technology was important and that when she is working with 20 students in the classroom, there should be 21 minds working not just 1.  She invites the input of the students and welcomes them to come up with solutions to their problems.  Parents saw a difference in one student who is excited to go to school more now because of technology and other parents said that they are seeing leadership qualities in their child that have been brought out because of his love for technology.  I liked the comment from a student who said " I like everything about technology."  We must teach students to love to learn and technology can be an aid in this effort. 

The Powerpoint was a Hit!

     In field this week, our cooperating teacher put a powerpoint on the projection screen and we got to see the response of a fourth grade class following a lesson on powerpoint.  The students were excited from the beginning.  The jeopardy game she had them play was about finding the main idea of a story.  She had either 3 or 4 sentences come up when the team chose a category.  the students were to choose which of the sentences were the main idea of the paragraph.  This was an interesting way to display this lesson.  It was creative and fun and the students responded and stayed interested the entire lesson.  

     I am seeing how excited the students get when technology is used in the classroom and it makes me realize how important it is to integrate it in my lessons as a teacher.  I watch how excited the students get everyday to go to their technology class.  They are energized and ready to learn about computers.  They try to be patient with waiting for help and they are enthusiastically helping each other when they have the answer to their classmates question.  They love the cd's and respond to the music played on cd in the class.  They are quick to come to the rug to see what the teacher will put on the overhead.  I think they responded very positively to technology as a whole.

     I will seek to utilize technology in my classroom on a daily basis.  I feel that the students want to learn and technology makes it enjoyable to learn.  I will use powerpoint, webquests, digital stories, camcorders, uen, podcasts, and a class website often.  I am sure I will learn many more options in the years to come and hope to utilize whatever I learn effectively.  I hope that my students will value technology even more when they graduate from my class because they will see what an effective tool it can be.

So This Is Field!

     We have long awaited this week.  The anticipation has been intense and exciting.  Field has arrived and it has been amazing!  We met our teacher and asked how we could help her.  She was great at telling us her expectations. I feel that we can learn so much and gain new insights.  I am amazed at how much teacher's get done in one day.  So far we have seen our teacher use the overhead and cd player and her laptop as far as technology techniques. They have a technology expert at the school and the students go to the technology lab so the core teacher does not have to teach the computer skills to the class.  I am looking for other ways she will use technology in her lessons and look forward to learning new ideas.

     We have been preparing our lessons for the fourth graders and we are excited to integrate technology in our lessons about the Navajo.  We are considering many avenues and hope that we can take their rich culture of the Navajo and bring  the lessons to life for our fourth graders.  This can be enriched with technology in the form of dvd's, music, powerpoints, and digital visual aids.  We will explore other options as we put the final touches on our lesson plans.  We have the advantage of knowing the students will like anything that brings technology into play.

     I will watch closely this next week for variations of technology.  This will give me the advantage in the classroom later to have great ideas for my students.  I will keep the essential question for our lessons in mind and I will utilize technology as much as possible.  I hope to use primary sources in technological format so that the students can see an authentic visual image that will far surpass a rough copy of an artifact on a ditto sheet any day.