Best and Worst of Tech & Topics.

Hmmmmmmm. What did I like most about this class? Besides the environment, all the interesting people, and Mr. B's awesome teaching style? Probably learning all the cool new ways to impress future students :)

I'm a pretty tech savvy person, my dad usually calls me when he needs help, and I learned so much from this class. I love Prezi and Glogster...but my ultimate favorite has got to be Join.Me. I can not get enough of that site! Plus this was a class I never got stressed about. Having a heavy work load was very stressful this semester, but this class was not about stress at all! It had a very chill quality about it, and instead of a teacher classroom feel, it felt like a teacher boardroom and we all got together.

The worst part about Tech and Topics? I'm actually kind of sad that it is over, because I feel like there is so much more to learn! It's like we only scratched the surface of all that the internet has to offer to teachers. Besides that...I am afraid that I am going to forget how to do some things, but other than that.. I loved this class! I'm definitely going to miss it.

Does Technology change the way we teach?

Considering that I'm writing this blog post for a class called Technology and Topics, I would have to say Absolutely!

Technology has opened the door to so many things that we have never been able to even comprehend before. Using smart boards seemed like a futuristic idea when I was in grade school, and now even it has become obsolete in some schools.

We can now connect with people instantly across the world instead of writing letters, hoping they don't get lost in transit...and translation! Instead we can come face to face with multiple countries and learn together collaboratively. It's simply amazing.

We can even link computers together so that everyone can have a hands on experience with the classroom (Join.me Try IT! you won't be disappointed I promise). Plus look what that one choir director did... he connected people from all over the world to create a global and virtual choir. If you haven't seen it, check it out here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7o7BrlbaDs

I think that by having basically the world at our fingertips, technology has definitely changed and possibly improved the way we teach. This is true especially for this generation who is so reliant on technology.

Technology Presentation Overview

Even though I did not have to present on a Web 2.0 technology idea, we did discuss them in class.
I really loved Join.me which is a website that allows you to hook up to other computers so you can all be connected. You can have one person take control of all the computers, or the 1st person can allow others to control as well..
I think this would be extremely helpful in classrooms. The teacher could connect with the student's laptops to show them information, and help to present ideas with other students. The students could use it as well, for group projects. They could all write on the computer they are hooked up to. This would be helpful if the group could not meet outside of school, so they could work together no matter what. The teacher and students could peer edit papers, write articles, make presentations. Basically they have the whole Internet to do anything, and they are connected while doing it...

Gotta love 2011.

Is there Value in Learning from Fiction?

As an English major, I answer that with a estatic YES! (woohoo) Even though fiction is not wholly true, there are so many life lessons portrayed in all that we read. Through all of Shakespeare's works we learn of love, jealousy, lust, hatred, and power, just to name a few. From Elizabeth Bennett we learn what it takes to be an independent woman falling in love. Through Tom Sawyer we learn about consequences of our actions and the overwhelming love of adventure throughout our young lives. Each fiction novel, or even a modern fiction story, exemplifies some kind of value that allows students to connect their own lives with these stories. Of course, as an English major... I may be a tad biased, but I whole heartedly believed that learning from fiction is very valuable indeed.

Presentation Critique Paper

Kelly Krebs

3/24/11

Presentation Critique

Tech and Topics

I introduced the Shakespearean sonnet in my mini-lesson, and it went better than I expected. I was extremely nervous in the beginning but I loosened up as the lesson went on. I introduced the main components of the sonnet including the quatrain, the couplets, and the rhyme scheme.

I think I introduced the components well, and it helped to explain the background and explain why the sonnet is called the Shakespearean. Shakespeare is arguably the greatest writer in the English language, and so I find it important that my students know and recognize his work. Although Shakespeare did not create the English sonnet, he was the most practiced of the writers in this type of sonnet. I think it was also beneficial to have the “students” come to the front of the room to identify the components after I had done an example myself. This way I could see that the students could both understand and complete this activity on their own if I had them to it on their own.

There are a couple things I need to work on to improve on my teaching skills. I realized that when I do get nervous I would start to mumble and turn my head from the room. So not only do I look like I am talking to myself, but my students miss what I am saying. I also realized that I stood still. Now in this room, I couldn’t move too far around the room because of the stationary camera, but when I get my own classroom it would be helpful to walk around so I can monitor the students and answer questions that they may have. I think walking around would also be beneficial because then I am entering the students space. This will show them that I am there to help and I am on the same level as them, while still maintaining that I am first and foremost their teacher.

Another nervous habit was when I would hold my arms in tight to the side of my body and only wave my forearms. It looked stiff and uncomfortable, and that is not how I want to be viewed by the students. I also noticed that I hold my hands together a lot and rub them together. This creates a closed off attitude and I don’t want the students to think that I have a closed off personality. I want to be open and available, and I don’t want to give off that kind of feeling.

I think my greatest problem will be my expressions. I have always been a joker, and in a classroom there is a certain time and place. I need to make sure these kids understand that I am first and foremost their teacher. Only after I have firmly established this relationship will I be able to joke and laugh with the students. A teacher of mine once said it is ok and healthy to laugh at yourself in a classroom, but only when you have fully established a line between teacher and friend.

I also think I need to better acquaint myself with technology. The smart board wasn’t orientated so it was difficult to write on. I could also maybe use a different type of presentation besides just the smart board so as to incorporate more active participation with the students. If the students all had individuals laptops I could have them choose their own sonnets to identify.

Overall, though, I think I did pretty well, but through my experiences I hope to become a better teacher. I hope to learn from these mistakes and other mistakes that I may make and become the teacher that I one day hope to be. I’ve had teachers that have inspired me to become just like them, and I hope to one day make them proud.

Portfolio Based Assessments...Yea or Nay?

To be honest, this is the first time I have heard about portfolio based assessments. I've always been graded on what I did at one time, for a test or a paper. I've never had to collect everything I've ever written and turned it in to be graded.
So as Jessica and I sit in Panera she explains the assessment to me. This is what I've gathered:

• You may or may not have to turn in papers during the year. Instead the assignments are assigned and you work on them throughout the year with the teacher.
  
• Then you collect all your work and make a portfolio that you turn in to your teacher that contains the best editions of what you have written.
• The teacher then grades it as does a state grader, and they average the two grades.
  
• The teacher can challenge the grade of the state grader and bring in a third, but then the third grader has the final say on the grade of the student's work.

The Pros:

1. This gives the student chances to improve their writing (I'm speaking for Language arts) and fix mistakes that they might have made. This gives them a chance to fix their mistakes and produce a truly great piece of writing.
2. This also allows a student to challenge themselves to create a portfolio. It requires time and a lot of planning and organization skills. It helps the student to become more efficient with their time, etc.

I can see that their are Cons to portfolio based assessment, but that is for another time.

What's it like you critique yourself?

I think it is extremely beneficial to critique yourself. While watching my video, I never realized how many nervous actions I have and now that I can see them...I can get rid of them! I don't want to look like a nervous newbie teacher, so this gives me an advantage to see what I've done wrong and how i can change it. It was fun watching my video and seeing myself teach. It wasn't too hard to criticize myself because I could tell from just watching what I needed to change.