Week 7 Reflection

Week 7 Reflection

Podcasts

This week we were encouraged to play with and find interesting audio podcasts.  I have never listened to any podcasts before so this was new for me; my husband and one of his buddies do a podcast on Magic the Gathering but I can’t say I have ever wanted to listen to that one.  After searching around and listening to a few, I quickly realized I have a short attention span when it comes to just listening.  I guess I am not much of an auditory learner.  I did however find a perfect podcast to use with my students called 60 Second Science where they do a minute on a topic that deals with science.  I could use this if I finished up early with a class and ask them a question about it for a ticket out the door.  I could also play relevant ones as we take notes to help break up the writing.  The other podcast I listened to was called Tech Chick Tips; I loved their slogan “Two Texas Chicks who love technology and the digital lifestyle”.  Both are teachers who are hoping to encourage other educators to use technology in their teaching.

60 Second Science

Short and informative 60 second blurb about a variety of science topics.  Find out about the world’s smallest frog, getting kids to eat more vegetables, or how long it takes to travel around the sun.

Tech Chick Tips

The “chicks” offer tips and tricks on how to use specific technology in the classroom and provide tons of websites with ideas like teaching from Angry Birds or information on cyberbullying.  Although I may not listen to their 40 minute podcasts I will be checking back to their blog for their variety of websites.

Chapter 14 The Development and Evolution of HPI

          HPI or Human Performance Improvement is a vision to “achieve, through people, increasingly successful accomplishments that are valued by all organizational stakeholders”. (pg.135)  After reading the chapter, I feel you could easily use this vision to improve any human performance in any occupation.  It seems to be a pretty common sense idea that just needs support to make it happen.  At my school, I am expected to teach 7^th grade South Carolina science standards to my 7^th grade students.  I receive support through my professional learning community(PLC), resources, administration, and district professional development.  I have a large group of people who I can rely on to help me make sure I am providing the best education possible for my students.  My colleagues are also expected to teach their standards and we try and make as many cross curricular connections as possible.  I feel that everyone at the school is working towards a common goal of preparing the students to become successful people and lifelong learners.  The chapter stresses how important it is to have the stakeholders take value in these goals and this is where education seems lacking.  Our students can take value in their education and of course their teachers do but having parents take value can sometimes be difficult.  Many students succeed without the support but too many are failing without it.  My school works hard to provide opportunities for parents to be a part of their child’s education and teacher’s are constantly calling home and setting up conferences but some parents seem unreachable.  If we want to see our students’ performance improve it is going to take hard work from all involved including the student. 

Week 6 Reflection

Week 6 Reflection

Lesson: How to calculate and compare the unit costs of various sizes and/or brands of  

             the same product.

Behavioral Learning Theory

          B.F. Skinner’s Behavioral Learning Theory claims that learning results from positive or negative reinforcement.  A teacher strives to find the appropriate response to each of his or her students’ behavior in hopes of encouraging the want to do well.  While teaching a lesson on calculating and comparing the unit costs of products I see a competition between groups to purchase a grocery list of items with a certain amount of money.  Each group could be given ads to a variety of stores and they would have to comparison shop and calculate the price to find the best buy for their money.  The winning group who bought the most food for the least amount of money would then be awarded a prize.  As with all lessons, not all responses will work for every student and usually a variety of positive reinforcements are necessary for the range of learners in one room.

Cognitive Information Processing Theory

          The Cognitive Information Processing Theory is almost defined in its name; processing information that is learned and connecting to previous knowledge is the main idea of this theory.  This theory is based off the idea that we all have three memory systems: sensory, short term, and long term. (pg. 37)  If teaching this lesson, I would start with assessing the students’ prior knowledge by conversing about their shopping experiences and basic math skills.  Next I would have a variety of brands of a product, say toothpaste, for the students to view, hold, and organize in a way that made sense to them.  We would talk about how each student or group organized the toothpaste; size, brand, or price.  They would then discuss which toothpaste they would buy if out shopping.  I would have them compare their choice with other choices comparing the price per ounce and discuss whether or not they made the right choice for their money.  This simple lesson would hopefully make a future thrifty shopper.  

Situated Learning Theory

          The Situated Learning Theory describes that learning happens by doing.  Teaching this lesson with this theory in mind I may set up a field trip to a local store or if possible set up a store in the classroom with a variety of school supplies and snacks.  The students could be put in groups and given a set amount of money to make a dinner or buy supplies for a project.  They would have to use their math skills and compare brands and sales to make sure they did not run out of money while at the same time getting everything they needed for their project.  They would be thrown into a situation and have to use their skills and knowledge to achieve their goal on the spot.

Embedding Media Activity

I Can't Believe It Remix The Digestion Song by Travis Finlay

My students love listening to music even if it is about the digestive system. However the Justin Bieber remix on the circulatory system did not go as well.

Here is a link if you are dying to hear it! Circulatory System Song

I also try to add cartoons or silly images to break up my notes and put a smile on my students faces.


Here is a map of College Park Middle School in Ladson, SC where I teach.


View Larger Map

Flickr

 MyFlickr


I promise I am not a cat lady.  I just thought since this was a public site Lloyd wouldn't mind being in all the photos:)

Week 5 Reflection

Week 5 Reflection

          I cannot imagine receiving such an awesome opportunity.  If my local middle school were given laptop computers for the teachers and every student the possibilities would be endless.  However, in this situation, the outcome was not successful and instruction was not positively affected.

A. Three Possible Factors Why the Project Was Not Successful

1.    One factor which could have had a major effect on the project could have been teacher’s resistance to change.  We all know who these people are, most of us have worked with one or two and they drag their feet complaining the whole way.  Some teachers would rather continue doing what they have been doing in the comforts of their own classroom with their door shut.  They do not like change and do not deal well with having to adjust.  Possibly teachers were also resistant because they had little say in the project and rules and regulations were sent down from principals or district personnel.  Similar to when movies, radio, and television programs were pushed to be the next big educational tool without teachers having much of a say.

2.    Another factor could have been a lack of guidance and instruction on how to successfully incorporate the use of the computers.  If laptop computers were just dropped into the arms of teachers and students without classes on how to’s and tips and tricks many would not be used to their full potential.  When I moved to South Carolina I had a brand new SmartBoard in my classroom and had never seen one let alone used one before.  I am a fairly curious person and think I am pretty tech-savvy so I learned a lot by doing but I also worked with a district instructional technologist and signed up for professional development so I could use this technology to benefit my students education. 

3.    The cost and energy of maintaining the equipment could also have been a limiting factor.  I imagine all these scenarios of students’ computers breaking and the excuses as to how they broke; who will pay for the repairs and what will they do while their computer is being fixed?  If their textbooks and everything else is on these computers without them they would be lost and could easily fall behind.  There would need to be many systems put into place to ensure proper use and care which would be difficult since you are dealing with middle schoolers.

B. Two Strategies to Help

1.    A strategy that may have been beneficial for the school would have been to involve and prepare the teachers for this program.  Those teachers who constantly put up a resistance to change may have a better attitude if they had more say or input in the implementation. 

2.    A second strategy would be holding assemblies and offering classes to prepare students, parents, and teachers on using and working with their new laptop computers.  Teachers could collaborate together on ways to incorporate using the computers in class interactively and appropriately.  Students could be shown how to use the programs, access materials, and take care of their new equipment.  Parents could also benefit from being informed on how this new technology can benefit their child’s education and what they can do to make sure it’s successful.

Social Bookmarking

http://www.delicious.com/cbrogers/

Week 4 Reflection

Week 4 Reflection

          Wow, who knew that was what social bookmarking was all about?  I have heard the term used before but never knew what it really was.  I thought I was organized with my all my folders in my bookmarks tab but this social bookmarking offers so much more.  I cannot tell you how many times I have tried to find a site at school that I had bookmarked at home the night before, I usually email myself links so I can get to them from school but not anymore.  The possibilities are truly endless. 

          I could see students sharing with students working on projects together, finding resources to use at home and then working on it at school or their partner’s house.  Teachers sharing with students would be a great way to have students practice a concept with interactive sites or find information easily for a project.  I have done many projects where I have taken my students to the computer lab and they have spent too much time searching for information and wasting valuable work time; with Delicious I could preselect sites to ensure time used wisely.  I have already benefited from the teachers sharing with teachers by simply searching on the Delicious site.  I can spend hours on Google myself searching for lessons or worksheets and now look forward to finding resources I know other teachers use.  I have already shared with a few of my colleagues how great social bookmarking is.

Check out my site at http://www.delicious.com/cbrogers

          As I read the first chapter of Trends & Issues, I was almost over whelmed with the varied definitions of instructional technology(if that is the term you prefer).  I understand the need to tweak the definition as time passes especially because it’s centered around technology which we all know is constantly changing.  I feel the most recent definition by the Association for Educational Communications and Technology(AECT) does a great job encompassing the many different aspects of the possibilities of instructional technology.  The definition the textbook uses I believe sounds very similar to the AECT definition but goes into more detail.  If I were trying to explain instructional technology to someone who had no idea what it was I would use the textbook’s definition. 

After reading this chapter, I thought about our districts IT’s or Instructional Technologists and how I and many others rely on their expertise but I also see myself as an Instructional Technologist.  I use tons of technology resources to educate my students; we use the computer lab, visit interactive sites on the SmartBoard, watch video clips, and even listen to songs involving science.  So by definition I am an IT.  I hope to continue to learn more about the latest technology and involve more technology into my teaching to help me cover the variety of learning styles in my classroom.