Final Post

The most valuable aspect of creating a PLE was a way to gather my thoughts every week and write them down. It was a great way to reflect what we had learned and discussed in class. Then I was able to form my own thoughts and opinions and then express them in my blog. I also enjoyed going back and looking at what I had written. It was a reminder of what I had learned.
I didn't like that we were told what to write on our PLE. I would have liked more if we were free to write whatever we wanted to express.
I could see myself using a blog in the future when I have my own classroom. I would express lesson ideas that I found were helpful and also ones that didn't go so well. I would then encourage other teachers to read it and get ideas. Hopefully they would also do the same so we could all learn from each other!

Internet Safety-Watching

I feel like I learned a lot from watching these videos. I was informed even more of what is out there. These videos really made it real to me of what can happen to children if they are not careful. Friendships can be broken, running away, and scary situations can occur. I was made more afraid of the internet. If we are not careful, we can easily be taken advantage of. We have to not ever give out our personal information to anyone.
I could use these resources in my future home and classroom. I could prepare a lesson about the importance of internet safety and then show some of these videos to the children. This would inform them of what could happen if they are not careful. I will then let them know what I expect of them in regards to how and when they use the internet. It will be in an open space and they should always feel comfortalbe to tell me what they are looking at. I should also encourage them to tell me if they ever see something that is inappropriate on the internet, then they should tell me.

Technology

For my fourth article, I read "The Savior is Counting on You" by Elder Christensen. It was directed to Aaronic priesthood holders, but I still found it very helpful and informative. He discussed 3 ways that the Lord is counting on us. They are: be a champion of those who need you, avoid the trash that surround you in the media, and be worthy to enter the temple and fill an honorable mission. The other articles were more specific on ways to use technology. I liked Elder Ballard's statement that "our biggest challenge is to choose wisely what we listen to and what we watch." The other articles were specific on how to provide technology with children. We should have computers in open places, inform children of the dangers of technology, and also of the positive things of technology. What I have read, will certainly help me as a future teacher and parent. I know now that I need to be aware of the technology dangers and inform the children of what they are so they can be aware. But, I can help them use technology for positive purposes. These were informative for me to be aware of what technology can do. I have learned, though, that there are so many great parts of technology that we shouldn't disregard it all together! With family and friends, I can help them know of the good websites and what we can gain from them. Technology can be a great help to many.

4th Week of Practicum

I didn't notice any new use of technology this week in my classroom. As always, the overhead was used for several lessons. It is used specifically for spelling, grammar, and writing. The kids really seem to enjoy this and it keeps their attention focused. There is also a daily use of computers at their time of centers. A small group uses a few computers together. They play learning games off of uen.org. They all really enjoy this. There is not much other use of technology in the classroom.
I used the same amount of technology as I did in the previous weeks. I used the overhead to teach spelling and grammar. And then I also used the computers with the children to explain the games to them. Technology lessons seem to really catch their attention. It is something they are not used to and enjoy.
I know that the school has a computer lab. I think it would be useful for the class to use this lab once a week to get more familiar with the computers. Computers can be so useful if only children knew everything they could do on them. I think they should go to the computer lab and have lessons on everything they can do on the computers.

3rd Week of Practicum

This week I basically saw the same amount of use of technology in my classroom. My teacher uses an overhead every day for many lessons. This seems to really keep the kid's attention focused in one area. For math, she also used an audio CD for the kids to listen to. The CD explained the worksheets the students were to complete. This class really enjoyed this. Besides these few things, there really is not much technology used in my classroom.
I taught my technology lesson this week! I did a virtual tour on google earth. A few days earlier, my partner did a tour about the earth in general. She talked about islands, oceans, continents, and countries. Then I did a more specific tour on the 7 continents. So I used a laptop and a projector for my lesson and went through the tour with the children on google earth. I talked about each continent and showed them pictures that went along with each continent. The kids were so fascinated by this. They had never seemed to see the projector or laptop used before in the classroom. The lesson went really well and they enjoyed the tour on google earth. With other mini lessons I did throughout the week, I also used the overhead.
I feel that technology could be used a lot more with teaching math. I don't have a specific idea, but they could practice math priniciples by playing math games on the computer. They would enjoy this while also improving their math skills.

2nd Week of Practicum

I saw a little more use of technology this week in the classroom. The teacher always uses a computer when she first comes in. She checks it for announcements concerning school activities. Every morning at centers, the students have a center for computers. There are a group of computers right outside the classroom. They go to a certain website and play learning games. These either involve numbers, writing, or spelling. An overhead is used a lot throughout the day. Almost for every lesson. The teacher teaches her lessons through explanations that she writes on the overhead for the whole class to see. I didn't see any negative aspects of technology used in the classroom.
I used the overhead in my teaching this week. I found this was a great way to teach my lessons. The whole class can see and they seem interested to see what I will write next. I felt it helped me to manage the class as well while teaching my lesson. I will continue to use the overhead in my lessons. I feel it is a great resource.
I thought this week that it would be a great idea to use my virtual tour that I created for my classroom. I think they would really enjoy it and find it interesting. I think it would be something unique that they never would have seen before. It would be a great way to grab the student's attention.

First Week of Practicum

I didn't see much use of technology this week in my classroom. The teacher had a computer, but didn't use it very much. She use an overhead occasionally. Outside the classroom, they did use computers as a part of their centers time. Each student participated in a learning activity individually.
I didn't use any technology while at the school this week. There wasn't much technology at all.
My idea of teaching technology in the classroom is with the computers that the students already use at their centers. While at the center, I could teach a lesson on something they could research on the internet that could be useful and interesting to them.