Field work-Happy Thanksgiving!

This week one of the things my supervising teacher did was teaching about music. She taught the students about different types of music and different instruments and what catagories they go in. Miss Kelley gave each student a picture of a musical instrument and had them put them in categories. At the end of the lesson she showed a movie of Peter and the Wolf which has many different instruments playing as characters in the story.



The students really enjoyed interacting and learning about music. Miss Kelley used watching the movie as a reward for participating in the discussion. It seems like any time she turns on a movie the children are engrossed. She used the whole lesson to prepare the students to go to a performance by the Utah Valley Symphony. I think it gave the students a good background about the instruments and the type of music that would be played.



I would love to use technology like movies in the future as a teacher. It's good to use movies sparingly so the students are excited about them and really pay attention. Miss Kelley has bought a lot of materials like movies herself. She said she first tried using an audio tape of Peter and the Wolf but the students didn't pay attention that much. I'm sure it will take time as a teacher to figure out which lessons work and to collect books, movies, and things for class use.

I watched a video on Teachertube about James Otis and the subject of taxation without representation. This was a fun video of a man in period costume telling the story of James Otis. Otis was a man who was hired to argue against the ritz of assistance but instead argued for it. Otis is famous for the quote taxation without representation is tyranny. The people of the US smuggled ingredients to make rum from the Spanish Dutch and French when they couldn't obtain enough ingredients through England. Otis had a sad and tragic life but he was a revolutionary man who fought for his beliefs. This would be a fun and worthwhile video to share with students.

Field Work Week 3

This week I learned more how my supervising teacher uses the computer. She has a class website where she posts announcements, the calender, the spelling list, the weather, and other homework. She also has all her grades recorded online. The students do homework through a UEN site. There are a variety of games for different subjects and the computer even grades the student's work. Miss Kelley said the students don't even notice that they're doing homework. She also tracks the weather online twice a day and the kids record the weather.



It's neat to see what we've been learning about in class in action in the classroom. I think tracking grades online and having students do homework online would save a lot of time and paper. I think tracking the weather online is neat because it shows the kids the computer in action and allows students to have instant information.



I would like to use the computer for homework and to track grades. I was amazed to find out that the teacher doesn't even create the homework-it's already done! I will definitely use technology in the class-computers, overheads, projectors, movies, CDs, etc. I also want to use clips from the internet to help give students ideas for writing. It was interesting at our PLC meeting to see the teachers interact with each other. One of the teachers wants to do formative testing during math. One of the teachers listened to him but the other didn't seem to agree. I can see that it would be difficult to work as a team sometimes. It will be important to communicate fully with others and cooperate on projects.

I watched a Teachertube video on James Otis. He was an early patriot and government lawyer who was asked to argue for writs of assistance (search warrants) but instead quit his job and argued for it. He argued against the king of England taxing the United States. Otis is famous for his quote, "taxation without representation is tyranny." This video portrays a man in period costume explaining who Otis was and what he did. This is a fun video and I think students would enjoy it and also learn about James Otis and about the early government of the U.S. and the government of England.

Field Work Week 2

I'm learning about how technology is used right now in classrooms. The 4th graders go to computer lab once a week where they learn how to type. It's good for them to learn how to type but they don't utilize the computers much to help them learn. If they get done early they can play a drawing game. The students also use CD's of books once a week with their guided reading books. They really enjoy this and I think it improves their comprehesion and pronounciation. When I was doing my technology interview I found out about UTIP which is a program which allows teachers to create tests to review core topics. When you put in the subject the program creates a test for you. The students take the test online and then the computer graphs how the students did on various questions and can even graph how subgroups performed on the test. Then the teacher knows what their focus needs to be. I'm excited to see how much fun the children are and the huge impact I can have to help them learn.

Right now I'm learning how underutilized technology is in the classroom and also how much students enjoy it. I am trying to use technology in my lesson plans. I use the computer to help plan lessons and we are using a video in our lesson plan on Monday. I am also assisting the students in using the CDs to listen to books and helping them find the right place to follow along in the book.

In the future I would like to use some of the things that are being used in my class such as books to listen to, overheads, and truly utilizing computers. I would schedule the computer lab for additional time to reinforce subjects that we are studying. I will also encourage students to do homework on the computer to do homework, blog, use webquests, and create things like powerpoints. I am REALLY excited about UTIP. I would definitely use this to fully prepare my students for end of year testing and to insure that subjects are thoroughly understood.

I watched a video on Teachertube called Think Before You Post. The video was very well made and I think it would hit home with students the fact that anything you post can spread to family, friends, and anyone. I think as much as children use computers they need to be aware of the ramifications of posting. The need to avoid posting personal information such as inappropriate pictures, their name, address, phone number, and what they are doing. They can't take back information that they've shared. I've also read that they need to be careful what they post about their family and friends because it could effect their parent's jobs, reputations, and their entire family.

Fieldwork week 1

I was not able to do the technology worksheet because the school specialist can't meet with us until tomorrow. I will do the worksheet as soon as possible. This week I have been learning how teachers actually are using technology in the classroom. Our supervising teacher uses technology in many ways. She showed the children a video about C.S. Lewis which captured their attention. The children also went to computer lab and are learning there. The teacher records her grades online and has the children do their homework online if they have access to the computer. She thinks their spelling scores have increased because they enjoy doing their homework online.

The ways the teacher uses technology give me ideas about things that I can include in my lesson plans in college. I think it would be neat to include videos, documentaries, or pictures as I prepare lessons so I can practice for the future.

This changes my schema about all the things that can be done with technology in the classroom. I think it's a great idea to record grades online. It would be very neat and easy to track. Having the students do homework online would cut down on wasting paper and would cut down on clutter for the teacher and students. The video was a fun way to introduce C.S. Lewis. The teacher also has recordings of the books the students are reading which they get to listen to once a week. It was enjoyable for the students and I think it would increase their vocabulary and pronounciation. It's fun to see technology being used in the classroom!

My Beliefs

I believe that technology should be used in the classroom. I think it is very useful for a teacher to have email and a class page so that students and parents are informed about assignments and can communicate with the teacher. Blogging is a fun way for students to improve their writing skills (whether they know it or not) and to express themselves. Having students create Powerpoint, digital stories, and webquests would also be a great way for them to learn and develop computer skills and other knowledge. Programs which teach students basic skills are also useful. I agree with NETS that it's important for teachers to have a sound understanding of computers and to continually stay curent with new technology. I plan on doing this!



The children of today live in a new age of technology. They expect instant communication and gratification. By using computers in the classroom I can "keep the joy of learning alive." (Millenial Generation video) By using technology in the classroom I can be a better, more relevant teacher. By using computers, students will develop vital skills which will prepare them for future life and careers. Technological skills will propel them forward and allow them to be the leaders of the future.

Lessons Learned

The readings, videos, and web sites had great information. I liked the video on the Millenial Generation. I think it's true that true happiness comes from engaging in personally meaningful work and performing service to a cause greater than oneself. By truly integrating technology and having students create we can engage, teach and interest students. As we teach students they won't be using technology simply for entertainment but to learn, solve problems, and create.

I think the web site "Did you know" states some important facts. It's scary that the U.S. students lag so far behind China and India. The U.S. needs to invest in educational development in order to survive and thrive in the today's connected world. Teachers really are preparing students for jobs that don't exist now and getting them ready to solve problems that don't exist today. Students need to have a broad base of knowledge, relevant and current skills, interpersonal skills, and adaptabilty in the future. Technology is a vital part of that education. I want to help the U.S. to be a strong nation with students who are intelligent and well educated to face the future.

Strengths and Weaknesses

One of my strengths according to the UNI survey and NET standards are my awareness of how computers can be used in business, industry, and society. I have used computers at work and know how vital they are to efficiency, record keeping, communication, and information availability. Another strength is using audio and visual resources. I think I have become better at finding sites which would be useful and interesting in class.

Some of my weaknesses in computer knowledge are using the Macintosh sysytem, computer terminology, trouble-shooting techniques, and learning how to use graphic organizers. I have heard that many schools use Mac systems so I need to learn more about them. I found two sites that would be useful in developing my computer skills. The first is Switch 101 which teaches about Mac systems. The second is the Teacher tap site on graphic organizers called eduscapes.com. These sites look user friendly and informative. I would like to improve my weaknesses and continue learning more about technology. My goals as a teacher are to be an awesome teacher and earn lots of money.

My goal as a teacher is to integrate technology in the classroom. I would like to have the children create things like Powerpoint, their own calender, and a blogging site. I would also like students to use webquests. I think as I use technology I'll be a better teacher who interests the students and teaches them current issues.