blog # 5

I think one of the major ways that integration of technology helps in a learner centered classroom is to actually give the students a little bit more freedom with what they are learning and doing with projects and other classroom activities. If you are having them do a project on different habitats, why not just tell them the major things you want in them and then let them get whatever other information they want to use off the internet and present it in whatever way they find most interesting so that you are not going to have the same presentation multiple times by different people. Another thing I think is a good way to integrate technology that will also give them a learner centered class is letting them do a newsletter to parents at the end of each quarter or semester that will tell them the different things have learned or things that they are excited about learning in the future of your class. This gives them the opportunity to get on the computers and play around with word processors and then it also gives their parents an idea of what they are actually doing in class. The last way I think it is a good idea to integrate technology into a learner centered classroom is to let them take their tests on the computer. Instead of having a simple test that has multiple choice and short answer why not let them do a project with the different programs on the computer at the end of each lesson to show what they have learned instead of making everything so standardized. This would be a fun and more exciting way for them to take a test and then it will also show you what the students have learned or need help on.

blog 4

I think that it would be easy to work with kidspiration and the smartboard while working with kindergarten. You can do all kinds of letter concept maps, color, or numbers and then put them up to show the class and have them come up and do different concepts. This would also give students a chance to use technology. You are also able to link websites to Kidspiration which would let kids do things such as puzzels on the smartboard to go with the lesson that is being presented in class. You could also make learning concept maps that include games with them that the students could do on days that there are indoor recess to continue the learning process in a fun and interesting way that doesn't include sitting in a seat doing a work sheet. I think the more kids can get involved in their learning the more they are going to actually learn and comprehend and then remember. If they are made to stay in a seat and do worksheets all day long it is a montinous task that children are going to get tired of and not want to do or even get burnt out on school at a very early age. I hate seeing students who don't want to be at school because I love learning and want it to be fun and something everyone will always love to do. I also think that it helps keep you young.

Blog 3 Databases and Spreadsheets

I think that students should use Databases and Spreadsheets in the classroom because it gives them another chance to use technology. I also feel that it will give them a chance to see data and information in many different ways instead of just the one that the teacher tends to print out. I feel that they will have the chance to learn a lot more when it can be presented in more than one way. When you are working with Kindergartener's like I am planning on doing they have not been tested to see the best way for each of them to learn. You have to figure out what will help them learn the best. It will be easier for them to learn and to show you as their teacher how they best learn. If you notice that they are doing the majority of their work with the graphs and charts instead of the written out directions it shows you they are a visual learner. Then you know that for that student it will help them if you have visual sections with their homework instead of wording. I also like this because it is an easy way to have multiple different views of something but yet it is the same information and a good way for all of the types of learners to learn instead of printing off 20 worksheets. When they are getting to do something like working with technology instead of just sitting at their desks working on worksheets that end up making the students dread going to class.

blog 2 Emerging technologies

On your ETPT 2020 Blog space, before Saturday, October 11, 2008 (6 p. m.), respond to the following prompt for Blog #2. After exploring Geo Technologies (GPS, GIS, Google Earth & Maps, etc.) Games, Simulations & Virtual Reality in class and participating in a GPS Scavenger Hunt, reflect specifically on how you might use at least two emerging technologies in your future classroom.

I am planning on being a kindergarten teacher and I think a fun way to use google earth in the class room would be to before the class takes a field trip type in the address of where the class is going and show the kids on the earth where they are going. Then mapquest the destination and make a mock city in the classroom and have them navigate where they are going for their field trip, using the arrows for directions. I think this would help them to get a better understanding of what is going to happen and where they are going to be traveling.
I think the games and simulations were fun because they make doing math, social studies, english, and science more fun than just reading out of a book. For example I played the game with the state capitals and you had to pick out what state went with the capital. I think it would be fun to try and start to teach the children seeing as that they are kindergarteners they are not going to know every one but if they do the activity as a class they may be more successful.
I like the gps activity. I think that kindergarteners would also like doing some kind of scavenger hunt looking for different things around outside. It would be a good way to get them out of the classroom while also burning off some energy. I think it would be fun for them to get to find different things either land marks or items placed at the point of interest.
I am happy we got to work with all of the different kinds of emerging technologies because even thought the kinds we used were a little too advanced for kindergartener's to use I think with a little help they would have fun doing the different activities and learn a little more about technology.

My newsletter- blog #1

I chose to do my newsletter on Kindergarten phonetics. The grade level indicators I decided to focus on were Hear and say the separate phonemes in words, such as identifying the initial consonant sound in a word, and blend phonemes to say words, following simple directions, share finding visually or orally, listen attentively to speakers, stories, poems, and songs, and speak clearly and understandably.
The ways I added these to my newsletter was with the phonemes were to pick words with their parents to understand and help others understand their letter. Following simple directions they were given different directions about making their costumes, the food, and picking the 5 words with their parents to help and remind the students about their letter. The benchmark about sharing went along with them telling the other students in the class about their letter, the words they chose, and the food they made that all went along with their letter. Working on the benchmark of listening attentively to speakers would go along with when another student is sharing the information they chose about their letter. When I decided to use the speak clearly it would also help them with public speaking and getting in front of people while they are speaking while also helping them to speak clearly.
I think my newsletter was good because when you are working with kindergarten students the best way for them to learn is to get up and do things because they have so much energy that when you expect them to sit in a seat all day long and work on worksheets they don't tend to stay as focused. I thought it would be a good way after they learned the letters in the alphabet to be able to show their parents and their friends and other people in the school how much they have learned in the class room. I did the same thing that I used for my newsletter when I was in kindergarten and it was a fun way to really get to put into reality what we learned and showed us that we would use it for more than just class. It was really great to be able to work with our parents and get to have a fun day. It was like show and tell everyone got excited to do it and then we ended up learning from it also but it didn't seem like work for us.
I don't really think it would be very realistic for kindergarten students to be using word processing but I think it would be a cool way to enhance their technology skills if you had someone who was able to work with them on a one on one basis to make a newsletter like this but in a class of 30 students or so it isn't really as possible as it would be for students in 2nd or 3rd grade.