I learned so much from Mrs. Turner. she has her master's degree and has been a teacher for about 20 years. I emailed her quite a few questions for her to answer and she gave me some great information. It really impresses me when i get to hear from someone with more experience and more education than me when i am striving to be like them. I am saving her email for when i get my own classroom to remind me of some things I should remember to do. This is most of the email that she sent to me.....
Technology is the best thing that has evolved in teaching in the last 15 years. I can now go to my computer and find the answer to any questions my class might have. In the past, you would have to write down the question, go and find a set of encyclopedias, and take the time to read or skim until you hopefully found the answer. I love technology! When I received my master's degree, I went on a state scholarship program that introduced teachers to computers.
Teachers (including myself) were very hesitinate of using them, since we had no training. I now use technology everyday at home in planning as well as numerous times throughout the day at school. I use it to help me plan, to communicate with other teachers, and share information and well as get information. I use the system wide program STI to document attendance as well as keeping a computerized grade book. This grade book can be viewed by parents in looking up their child's progress at any time. I use it to send out computerized progress reports and other reports.
My children in my classroom use technology everyday. We go to various websites as part of our daily lessons. I have a LCD in my classroom that is used several times during the day. I have not used textbooks in about 6 years. I teach by using technology, literature, and hands on activities. Teaching is so much more interesting now. Students are able to take computerized reading tests on the computer on books they have read on their independent reading level. Students also have use of online line programs at home that are part of our math, reading, and social studies programs. They can get extra help and use on line tools.
The best part of technology to me in education is the wealth of knowledge that is out there on the World Wide Web. I can find out anything I want. I do not have to search through books, I just Google now. I am very lucky to have four computers and a LCD in my classroom. I also have the use of a Smart board. I hope the future will bring more computers and laptops for all children, but I can only wish.
Robin Turner
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Blogs in the Classroom
I THINK THAT THERE ARE MORE PLUSSES TO BLOGS IN THE CLASSROOM THAN THERE ARE MINUSES. HAVING A BLOG FOR YOUR CLASSROOM CAN ONLY ADD TO THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR STUDENTS. AS LONG AS YOU KEEP YOUR BLOG EXTREMELY PROFESSIONAL AND STRICTLY FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES WHEN IT IS AVAILABLE TO BE SEEN BY FACULTY, PARENTS, AND STUDENTS, IT IS A GREAT TOOL TO HAVE.
THE PLUSSES ARE WHATEVER YOU ADD TO YOUR BLOG TO HELP YOUR STUDENTS. MAYBE A CALENDAR FOR WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO THROUGOUT THE YEAR, COPIES OF HANDOUT, VIDEO OF LECTURES, LINKS TO EDUCATIONAL WEBSITES, ETC. EVEN IF YOU JUST HAVE A BLOG FOR REMINDERS EVERY WEEK, IT IS STILL VERY USEFUL TO HELP YOUR STUDENTS KEEP UP BETTER. ALSO, A POSITIVE ASPECT OF BLOGS IN THE CLASSROOM IS IT INTRODUCES THE STUDENT TO TECHNOLOGY. THIS IS A POSITIVE MOSTLY FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS THAT CAN GET STUDENTS TO USE COMPUTERS AT A YOUNGER AGE.
A MINUS OF BLOGS IN THE CLASSROOM IS WHAT YOU DO WITH IT. IF YOU ARE USING YOUR BLOG FOR EACH LESSON TRY TO STICK WITH IT AND NOT BE UNRELIABLE. STUDENTS NEED INFORMATION WELL AHEAD OF TIME AND THEY CAN HAVE THE TIME TO WORK WITH IT. SO IF YOU ARE GOING TO PUT INFORMATION ON YOUR BLOG THEN GET IT UP AS SOON AS YOU CAN FOR THE STUDENTS. I REALLY ADMIRE LISA FOR GOING TO THE ACCESS LAB AND PUTTING HER POST UP BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE. SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT WE HAD A LOT OF ASSIGNMENTS AND NEEDED TO GET THAT OUT OF THE WAY. THE ONLY OTHER NEGATIVE I CAN THINK OF IS THAT YOU COULD BE GIVING SOME STUDENTS AN ADVANTAGE OVER OTHERS. SOME LESS FORTUNATE FAMILIES MIGHT NOT HAVE A PERSONAL COMPUTER THAT GIVES THEM EASY ACCESS TO YOUR BLOG. OTHERS CAN GET THE INFORMATION WHENEVER THEY NEED IT.
OVERALL IT IS VERY GOOD TO PUT TO USE THIS FREE TOOL THAT CAN REALLY BROADEN YOUR STUDENTS' EXPERIENCE AND MAYBE ALLOW YOU TO DO MORE WITH THEM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THE PLUSSES ARE WHATEVER YOU ADD TO YOUR BLOG TO HELP YOUR STUDENTS. MAYBE A CALENDAR FOR WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO THROUGOUT THE YEAR, COPIES OF HANDOUT, VIDEO OF LECTURES, LINKS TO EDUCATIONAL WEBSITES, ETC. EVEN IF YOU JUST HAVE A BLOG FOR REMINDERS EVERY WEEK, IT IS STILL VERY USEFUL TO HELP YOUR STUDENTS KEEP UP BETTER. ALSO, A POSITIVE ASPECT OF BLOGS IN THE CLASSROOM IS IT INTRODUCES THE STUDENT TO TECHNOLOGY. THIS IS A POSITIVE MOSTLY FOR ELEMENTARY TEACHERS THAT CAN GET STUDENTS TO USE COMPUTERS AT A YOUNGER AGE.
A MINUS OF BLOGS IN THE CLASSROOM IS WHAT YOU DO WITH IT. IF YOU ARE USING YOUR BLOG FOR EACH LESSON TRY TO STICK WITH IT AND NOT BE UNRELIABLE. STUDENTS NEED INFORMATION WELL AHEAD OF TIME AND THEY CAN HAVE THE TIME TO WORK WITH IT. SO IF YOU ARE GOING TO PUT INFORMATION ON YOUR BLOG THEN GET IT UP AS SOON AS YOU CAN FOR THE STUDENTS. I REALLY ADMIRE LISA FOR GOING TO THE ACCESS LAB AND PUTTING HER POST UP BEFORE EVERYONE ELSE. SHE UNDERSTOOD THAT WE HAD A LOT OF ASSIGNMENTS AND NEEDED TO GET THAT OUT OF THE WAY. THE ONLY OTHER NEGATIVE I CAN THINK OF IS THAT YOU COULD BE GIVING SOME STUDENTS AN ADVANTAGE OVER OTHERS. SOME LESS FORTUNATE FAMILIES MIGHT NOT HAVE A PERSONAL COMPUTER THAT GIVES THEM EASY ACCESS TO YOUR BLOG. OTHERS CAN GET THE INFORMATION WHENEVER THEY NEED IT.
OVERALL IT IS VERY GOOD TO PUT TO USE THIS FREE TOOL THAT CAN REALLY BROADEN YOUR STUDENTS' EXPERIENCE AND MAYBE ALLOW YOU TO DO MORE WITH THEM THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
My Podcast
OVERALL I THOUGHT THE PODCASTS WERE INTERESTING. BUT LISTENING TO THEM, YOU WERE REALLY ABLE TO SEE WHO DID THERE RESEARCH, WHO KNEW A LOT FROM EXPERIENCE, AND WHO KIND OF 'WINGED IT'.
I THOUGHT THAT THEY COULD HAVE SOUNDED A LITTLE MORE PROFESSIONAL. MUSIC WOULD HAVE COMPLETELY CHANGED THE MOOD OF THE PODCASTS. I REALLY LIKED THE PODCASTS THAT WERE MORE OF THE DISCUSSION TYPE. WHEN PEOPLE SOUND LIKE THEY ARE JUST READING FROM A SCRIPT IT IS NOT AS INTERESTING AS WHEN OTHERS ADD SOME INPUT.
THE GOOD THING ABOUT THESE PODCASTS IS THAT THEY CAN REALLY HELP YOU AS A FUTURE TEACHER. TEACHERS HAVE TO EXPLAIN THINGS IN A WAY THAT IS EASY TO UNDERSTAND. HEARING HOW YOU TALK CAN HELP YOU BECOME A BETTER SPEAKER. I LEARNED THAT I CAN USE A LOT OF WORK! BUT THAT IS A GOOD THING. I WILL WORK ON MY ABILITY TO EXPLAIN THINGS BETTER. IN MOST OF THE PODCASTS YOU CAN TELL THAT WE ARE NOT REAL EXPERTS ON OUR TOPICS OR ON PERFORMING PODCASTS.
I THOUGHT THAT THEY COULD HAVE SOUNDED A LITTLE MORE PROFESSIONAL. MUSIC WOULD HAVE COMPLETELY CHANGED THE MOOD OF THE PODCASTS. I REALLY LIKED THE PODCASTS THAT WERE MORE OF THE DISCUSSION TYPE. WHEN PEOPLE SOUND LIKE THEY ARE JUST READING FROM A SCRIPT IT IS NOT AS INTERESTING AS WHEN OTHERS ADD SOME INPUT.
THE GOOD THING ABOUT THESE PODCASTS IS THAT THEY CAN REALLY HELP YOU AS A FUTURE TEACHER. TEACHERS HAVE TO EXPLAIN THINGS IN A WAY THAT IS EASY TO UNDERSTAND. HEARING HOW YOU TALK CAN HELP YOU BECOME A BETTER SPEAKER. I LEARNED THAT I CAN USE A LOT OF WORK! BUT THAT IS A GOOD THING. I WILL WORK ON MY ABILITY TO EXPLAIN THINGS BETTER. IN MOST OF THE PODCASTS YOU CAN TELL THAT WE ARE NOT REAL EXPERTS ON OUR TOPICS OR ON PERFORMING PODCASTS.
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