Final Post

In our world today, one blink of the eye and there is some new gadget or program that involves technology. Our society is growing up in the age of technology and the generations behind us will grow up with more technology surrounding them. Even if we are not technology or computer teachers we are teachers and have the responsibility still to educate our students and prepare them for the outside world. Therefore I believe that it is very important to incorporate technology into my classroom.  I can do this through projects and having the students use technology and even through lessons by having myself demonstrate using technology. Students do not always need to be hands on but just be exposed to it at the very least. By incorporating technology myself and the students are following the growing age and always learning new skills that can be helpful and make tasks easier. it also allows use t be creative. We are all growing with skills as technology grows and changes. Yet, that can also be a challenge. With the rapid pace of technology sometimes it may be hard to keep up. I can vividly remember always using PowerPoint presentations and then a couple years go by and PowerPoint seems so out of date compared to all the new software. I felt like I missed a decade and would never learn how to use any of the new technologies. I was to the point I did not want an iphone because it could do to much. But never the less I did learn new software and I did get an iphone and I am comfortable using them all. I am thankful to take this class because I felt like I am up to date with all the new technologies although I know for certain I am not, but I did acquire a new handful of useful skills that I can use in my teaching Cabrera. I also appreciate technology much more than I did and am no longer intimidated by it. I learned so much and I am so glad I needed to take this class for my major because I acquired many new useful and helpful skills that will help me and benefit me in my career before during and after.

Examples of Electronic Portfolios

http://www.teachtech.ilstu.edu/resources/teachTopics/tips/kmckinne.php#tmat- good example
This is an example of a good electronic portfolio. In this portfolio Kathleen McKinney includes her philosophy, responsibility/involvement with students, materials, student outcomes, evaluation, teaching awards, and publications. She includes all things that should be included in a portfolio.If a person were to look at this portfolio they would be able to see how she teaches and what she is recognized for.

http://www.teachtech.ilstu.edu/resources/teachTopics/tips/cdhorva.php-bad example
Christopher D. Horvath's portfolio is not a terrible example but it is missing some crucial things that should be included in a portfolio. He does include his philosophy, responsibility and a thing that McKinney did not include his improvements. he did not include though something I believe is very crucial to have in a portfolio the materials and student outcomes. Examples of lessons and how the students are evaluated are a part of the portfolio that should be included because it allows people to see your work and how you conduct your teaching.

Copyright

All through out middle school and high school my teachers have shown us videos for either a related topic of study or just because it was before a break or the ap exam was over. For example we watch black hawk down in ap us history. We were not studying or even studied the war in the middle east, however it was just the video that the whole class picked to watch. Also before spring break in psychology we watched Forest Gump and then to fill up the rest of the days after we took our final we watched The Simpson episodes. The Simpsons were clearly not related to any course of study. As teachers I do believe that it is our responsibility to teach copyright laws the the students. We can do this by assigning a activity like incorporating a video into a lesson and also just playing a game like jeopardy where there are clips of music. As a history teacher I could also incorporate a court case concerning copyright when and if I am teaching a decade.

Video Scenario

Content Area: US History-Civil War
Project: Interview with a Famous Civil War Figure
Age: 9th grade
Preparations: In order to prepare for this project about four classes would be designated to preparing the project. During this time I would instruct the students on how to use the video camera as well as movie maker. I would also use this time to explain the project to them and the requirements that are needed. I would also split them up into groups of four and let them to pick their person of interest based on picking numbers out of a hat.
Time line: The students would have to conduct and set up an interview of a famous figure who took part in the Civil War.They can ask questions about life, duty, family members, etc. Students may act as the person, interviewer, the person's wife, husband, children and or family members. Every student must have some part. The camera, movie maker, tripod and microphone will be provided by the teacher. Two classes would be designated to planning the script by finding information if need be and planning the outline of the interviews as well as the costumes. The students would need to turn in the script, time line of the shooting and the costume list at the end of the class period.  After the two days the students will start shooting. two whole class periods devoted to shooting. The after the shooting there would be two days in the lab where students could edit their movie. most likely they would need to work after school  and are allowed to to finish. One day will then be devoted to watching the interviews
Challenges: Some challenges that might occur is the time frame, so students will not be able to accomplish all the work in the planned time frame, but to try and accommodate that work for this project may be done outside of class. Also allowing students to shoot during class means that I will have to have enough trust in my students to know that they will shoot during the two days and not just mess around. Time frame though should help that a bit. Also there are also computer problems so making sure I am prepared for the unforeseen problems.

Video Project

Overall I was very pleased and enjoyed the video project. I liked the fact that we were able to use the different music to tell the story and did not need to use any dialogue. We did however have to cut a good deal of film in order to fit in the time limit so probably if we were to do this project again think of something that we could easily do in a small amount of time. Yet, overall I feel that it was very successful. From doing this project I can take away the sole fact that I am able to use a video camera and use movie maker. By obtaining these skills I am able to create simple little movies for class and also assign projects that allow my students to create their own.

EDU 350 Video

How to Switch Roommates 350 Video

Week Six Blog Post- Interactive Whiteboards

Before using an interactive whiteboard I was very timid about it and very confused as well. I felt as though I would never get the hang of it and therefore have so any excellent teaching aids passe me by and I would be at a disadvantage. However after doing my smart board lesson all of those fears and nervous feelings are gone.  I now feel that the smart board is an excellent way to enhance teaching and I plan to use it for some of my future lessons. It is a great way to get students to interact with the lesson and therefore be present for it both in state and in mind.
I also had the fear that I would not be able to learn how to use the interactive whiteboard, however I was wrong. After being walked through it I caught in to all the different ways to create pages and add games and pictures. I was not as difficult as I expected it would be.
I am a big fan of the interactive whiteboard. Some pros to having it in the classroom is that the teacher is able to incorporate the students, have the students be engaged and possible volunteer more. I also captures the students rather than a boring old chalk board and just writing down things that are on it. It is also more exciting than a simple PowerPoint. Some cons though are that some lessons will not always need the smart board as an aid and we cannot always be dependent  on technology.
Thinking back to my previous lessons I would have used the smart board. I always do a warm-up and a worksheet that goes along with the lesson. With the smart board the warm-up can be more inviting and it is easier to guide the students through the worksheet with the help of the smart board.