week 5

This week in reading about bloom's taxonomy, I learned his theory on how different types of thinking and questions correlate to teach at certain levels. Blooms theory can be seen in a pyramid shape that corresponds to having Knowledge on the bottom with Evaluation at the top of the pyramid. This pyramid is supposed to help teachers create better questions that make students think deeper. The taxonomy shows a list of word in each category that apply to that level of thinking- such as under the Analyze category, words that correspond to it are categorize, compare, contrast. These different levels of thinking will help teachers to make a larger variation in questions such as simple recall, as well as, utilizing these different categories to engage the students. This theory is exploring a range of cognitive processes that are used.
I like that this type of categorization helps to explore different aspects of the reading or activity that is taking place. I remember having to do flow charts or posters to reiterate what was going on in the stories. I liked having more interactive activities than simple recall of facts that are going on. The questions that ask to evaluate or how I would feel about a certain instance in the story would be more interesting and perhaps make the book feel more personal. Using higher level questions mixed in with lower level could help keep tests and activities more interesting as well as challenging.

This week after learning and personally utilizing Powerpoint, there are many highly applicable uses as a teacher to help yourself as well as the student. Using powerpoint as a teacher can keep lectures on track and organized. Powerpoint allows the teacher to be able to face and engage the classroom at all times. Whereas previously, writing on the overhead projector took time and having your head face down as you are writing. Powerpoint is also more exciting for the student because it can be a good learning tool for different learning types. Having ideas bulleted while the teacher lecture facilitates note taking and the ability to do two things at once. Powerpoint oculd be used by the teacher to show how research can be done and put into a concise form to present to the students. Moreover, the Poewrpoint is an effective tool for the students to have to organize reports and learn to do presentations in front of groups of people. Having the students do group projects and using Powerpoint to organize and reflect on their topic is also a helpful learning tool.

week 4

After reading "Mapping Student Minds" I liked seeing the use of outdoors to educate students on the varying environment. I thought it was important that they went at least twice a year because it did provide some substantial data on how the ecosystem of the river does vary depending on the time of year. I think going twice and having to input data keeps the learning hands on and very interactive. The extension of using causal maps to link data helps students expand their learning into writing and placing ideas in a more cohesive way. I like how the project transitioned into groups for the causal maps as well as generating debate and discussions about how these maps should be laid out. This kind of discussion helps to facilitate ideas and make kids more confident in themselves. Also, the fact that these causal maps are used to present ideas to people outside the classroom is a great experience in public speaking which again can boost confidence. Using this tool of causal mapping seems to allow a variety of different learners to feel involved and challenged.
On a side note, I learned some good things about powerpoint this week in lecture. I learned to create slides that are simple and colors that contrast but are not hard on the eyes. Chargers colors do not work!. Moreover, to have an effective powerpoint, keeping things simple in terms of the bullet points I want to make. More than 8 words in a sentence and I have said too much. Keeping animation and sounds to a very very low roar is appropriate.
I also learned this week in class about the different kidns of learners. I realized that I fit in a couple categories very well such as Naturalistic and Intrapersonal. I already knew I was intrapersonal because the idea of having to work in a group at the end of the semester for a group video project kills me.

Week 3

After reading "Oh the Changes" I can vividly remember what it was like going into the computer labs in elementary school. I remember first being introduced to the mouse as my computer at home had to be navigated by DOS. I can relate to this article when it discusses having interactive games to have students start problem solving and interactive thinking. On page 16 "The Oregon Trail" and other games like it is discussed in this context. I remember being introduced to the game and thinking of life on the prairie and the best moves to make to keep my wagon train alive and on its way. Going to the computer lab was definitely one of the more exciting things that we got to do at school. As an interactive source, I enjoyed playing math games and writing games. Moreover, page 15 discusses how Print Shop and other media tools were used to start creating and integrating design into the classroom. I can relate to using this tool and finding it fun to be able to create different templates with backgrounds and borders so much so that I went home and made my parents buy this program for me.
The use of computer technology has come a long way since I was in the elementary classroom and it will be very exciting to see where it progresses too. I think it is important to keep curriculum up to the standards of the current technology as well as keeping the teachers up on it as well.
In terms of class this week, I learned to not reinvent the wheel by seeing how to find a rubric that might already have been created for me by using the rubistar website. Also, it was brought to my attention how beneficial it can be to have a newsletter to better communicate with parents and the students. In terms of creating newsletters, I have realized that only having Microsoft word is sufficient enough to create a great looking newsletter. I was taught how to use drop case and insert wordart into a header and footer. Though I am not particularly looking forward to creating three newsletters, I now have the tools to create templates that are easy and enjoyable to read.

Week 2

In class this week, I learned about the active desktop that Mac's have and that a program that has frozen is easier to close than on a PC. The colorful, swirling circle that lasts longer than thirty seconds is an indication that the program is no longer responding. Also, I learned that my 2gb flashdrive has to be plugged in to the back of the computer. To remove the flashdrive, I can drag it into the trash can, pulling it straight out of the computer can cause damage to the computer and flashdrive.
In the reading about changing a students preconceived notions, there are ways using technology, for a teacher to address and help change. The reading discussed how just presenting facts does not always help to change the way a student learns. However, through perhaps interactive sites that can be manipulated, help challenge already present ideas with the ones they are seeing come into motion in front of them. The reading was helpful in addressing that straight factual teaching is not alway the most effective. The article helped to provide ideas for utilizing technology and different assessments to enhance learning. By providing a student with the opportunity to grow, adjust and expand on current ideas, facilitates even higher levels of learning.
Netiquette rules were fun to read and be reminded me that even though I am not having face to face interaction, I am still communicating with a breathing, feeling human being. Also, it was interesting to learn about shareware and that providing a little bit of money does promote more products to be developed that I might benefit from later. Netiquette is important for people to look into once they enter the world of online communication. I know that I cannot personally stand when a "reply all" is hit so one person can complain about someone else on that list. After having that happen with the parents for my girls soccer team, I think it would advisable for some of them to read Netiquette rules.