Digital Badge #E

How technology generates problem solving and inquiry learning among students:

As I stated in one of my previous Blogs I think the background design of technology is a part of what caught student’s attention. When it comes to video games and the computer technology background images and audio sounds are appealing to the students senses which is the direct way we receive, respond, and process information.  I also think that technology enforces student centered learning why, the computer act as the teacher. It instructs students in an efficient and effective way which the design of technology convey information. The active engagement comes from the student who receives the information. This requires the mind to think in ways familiar to the students as a result, with the help of technology students then begin to incorporate new knowledge and understanding into their views and values as a result students begin to think critically and solve  problems this help move knowledge from a way of memorizing to knowledge actually learned. Memorization is a way of knowing without learning a way of answering without understanding it takes little thought process. What separates memorization from learning is a sense of meaning. It could be no other way. I have noticed this but I did not know why? I have learned video games separates lower order thinking from higher order thinking. Technology has shown a visual picture that knowledge is not fixed; No we cannot all understand it the same way. A teacher is human who can only teach so much. A computer can reach all the senses at once. This I think is the difference.  I feel this is why something is missing from teacher centered learning. I have now learned from this chapter that my understanding from my experience was right. Technology is moving education from teacher centered learning to Inquiry Based Learning.

 Problem Solving and Inquiry Learning with Technology:  

Inquiry based learning requires students to think mentally outside the normal to understand the world around us. By using real life issues to activity engage students.  This type of learning approves of children being creative and asking questions children are very curious they are rick takers this style of learning lets them be themselves with no right or wrong answers. Students learn how to investigate problems, issues, and questions to which there is not just one answer or predetermined answer students then begin to evaluate information draw their own conclusions and answers. I think that if students take these steps

• Understand the problem
•  Use problem solving strategies
•  Determine if they have solved the problem

Then I think problem based learning is what video games teach children.

Personally this is why I want to be an educator. Life is not like a book that you can read to find an answer to. Real life that we as educators are preparing students to enter rarely have well-structured problems. I know some children have learned this very young their lifestyle has already introduced these problems to them without a full understanding. 

Digital Games For Learning:

          My 3^rd grader comes home from school Friday talking about Centers in the classroom. One of the centers is computer center he does compass Learning which has math, science, and Language Art and social studies. When I read about digital learning I thought this must be what his teacher is using to engage the students and reinforce learning. While she is conducting a science lesson from her small group the students are learning their lesson from the interaction from the computer.

  

         

Digital Badge #I

Approaches to lesson Planning:

I think the background design of technology is a part of what caught student’s attention. When it comes to video games and the computer technology background images and audio sounds are appealing to the students senses which is the direct way we receive, respond, and process information.  I also think that technology enforces student centered learning why, I think the computer act as the teacher. It instructs students in an efficient and effective way which the design of technology convey information. The active engagement comes from the student who receives the information. This requires the mind to think in ways familiar to the students as a result, with the help of technology students then begin to incorporate new knowledge and understanding into their views and values as a result students begin to think critically and solve  problems this help move knowledge from a way of memorizing to knowledge actually learned. Memorization is a frontage road it’s a detour around all the action, a way of knowing without learning a way of answering without understanding. What separates memorization from learning is a sense of meaning. When you memorize a fact, it's arbitrary, interchangeable it makes no difference to you whether sine of π/2 is one, zero, or a million. But when you learn a fact, it's bound to others by a web of logic. It could be no other way. Technology I think shows the visual picture  that knowledge is not fixed and no we cannot all understand it the same way I feel this is why something is missing from teacher centered learning.

Assessing and evaluating students:

I know there is no simple way to evaluate student’s process in school.  Choosing the lesson, teaching the lesson, evaluating student’s growth progress since there is no definite way that shows students growth, knowing which route to go I think depends on the student individual needs. I know from experience when you begin to work one on one with a child you begin to see their strengths and weaknesses and this is what I think lets you know which one of the two performance assessment method to use.

Using Electronic Grading Software:

I find the virtual record keeping system well like by many students  I can say I personally like it too, I like that I can see the due date for all the assignments for the whole outline of the class semester along with what percentage we assignment is worth.it is a somewhat quick way to receive your feedback.

Meeting Educational Standards:

21st century technology in society has made education change where they have lagged behind. In today’s digital world teachers have to convey teaching curriculum with technology to engage students in the classroom. With the mandate on teachers to teach and review large amounts of curriculum teaches have to add technology into their style of teaching with all the pressure placed in them for standardized testing purposes. I think teachers need to have more focus placed on student centered learning. I think with the help of using technology to enhance teaching with instructional practice method however, I do understand that a teacher’s decision in what they teach and how they teach it is to some degree not in their control they have to abide by about four different curriculum standards. National, state, and local school district standards. Personally I think this is where things go wrong when it comes to education and education I think it’s funny how each has a different standard they are not all on one accord. But law enforcement from state to state and county to county if you commit a crime all work together should not education be the same? How do we teach and expect children to be persistent when we as adults are not; we are the ones who set the example for them.

Resources:

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Orlin, B. (2013, September 9). When Memorization Gets in the Way of Learning. Retrieved September 21, 2014, from http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2013/09/when-memorization-gets-in-the-way-of-learning/279425/

Liakos, N. (n.d.). Engrade: An Open-Source Online Gradebook Image. Retrieved September 23, 2014, from http://www.tesl-ej.org/wordpress/issues/volume11/ej44/ej44int/

Miss Keith's Adventures in Student Teaching Image. (n.d.). Retrieved September 23, 2014, from http://blogs.lt.vt.edu/laurak89/2014/02/23/lesson-planning/

Digital Badge #C

How technology promotes....
 critical thinking and problem solving

Technology has revolutionized the way we find and learning information. Google and the other search engines has become powerful tool with a broad range of information. Children of the 21^st century learn how to read visual images, create and interrupt new ideas starting at a young age some children even ask lots of questions about things about things they have learned from the Television, the internet, video games, or even what they have learned from us as their parents and their teachers. Online learning games,  activities interaction children find engaging and challenging  Because of the interaction between the game activities and the children growing up in the new world of technology children have learned the basics very young of how to access information in their outside of school lives. Even if the information learned is not retrieved in the right way it’s learned without the restrictions of grammar, and does not limit what they have learned. Like when children are first learning how to speak us as parents are so proud of their first couple of word that we ignore the fact that it may not be grammatically correct. Teaching and correcting this come with age progression. I think we as educators sometimes forget this with all the educational  demands placed on students and teachers how children are allowed to develop without trying to rush them along this area of development is an area that we let children take their time and develop. Digital media literacy promote visual learning. In this children learn ways to think critically it requires children to use their brain in a combination of multidimensional ways. Visual literacy I think is important it engages students in active learning. Speaking as a parent this is what helps my son the animations, the singing, and letter recognition and recall from Starfall helped my son learn his Alphabets. He loves the interaction and feedback he receives for the computer that he does not get from a traditional classroom setting.



Expressing Creativity  

Personality Traits I think are the building blocks of creativity within individuals that makes us all unique. Since the 1800’s of traditional education it seemed to me that we are behind the time change where the core curriculum was reading, writing, and arithmetic it was not the norm to express creativity. And if you did it was not the norm. Creativity in our modern 21^st century society especially in the world of business, especially in entertainment, culture, and Arts are major areas of creativity. By contrast children and youth of today’s age express creativity intellectually by music, drawing, painting, and building things. They also express creativity physically by expressing an interest in outdoor activities. Such as, skating, biking, playing basketball and football. To Foster creativity in the school environment children are using the computer to express themselves through Microsoft applications, digital videos, Music and Art.  Many people do have learning personalities in which they often express preference for one approach or another. Some people like visual information such as, pictures, diagrams, flow charts, time lines, films, demonstration; others, auditory input speech or visual symbols of auditory information written words and mathematical notations. Most people prefer to talk things out, to interact with other humans; some, to reflect independently. A majority try to organize information inductively; a minority, deductively. Some students like to learn sequentially, a piece at a time; others, globally, suddenly gaining insights. Some like facts, data, and experimentation sensors; others prefer to work from principles and theories. Sensors like solving problems by standard methods and dislike surprises. intuitors like innovation and dislike repetition. Sensors show patience with details but hate complications; intuitors become bored with details but welcome complications. Sensors are good at memorizing facts; intuitors are good at grasping new concepts. Sensors are careful but may be slow do not work well with timed tests; intuitors are quick but may be careless. but no matter who we are we all express creativity in many different ways. which makes us all creative and unique individuals.  

Communicating And Collaboration 

Information technologies collaborating make communicating in the 21^st century possible today. Yes! I like I can have my children’s grades sent to my email before report cards and interim are sent home. I also like knowing my sons assignment for homework and progress in school via email his teacher and I communicating. Collaborating Learning environments are far more important in the educator’s role in employing today’s technologies to make material accessible and engaging in other words, encouraging students to create, communicate, and collaborate in ways never before possible. “Knowing how to use technology is a key requirement today. In students outside of school lives students watch TV, and videos and send text messages, use cell phones for communication and email for the internet play video games which requires children to critical think to move from level to level, and play with remote control toys .These are all ways children use technology outside of school starting at a young age. When communication and collaboration says this technology focus, engage, and motivate learning yes! You can see this area is showing for its self, it does hold children’s outer and inner attention I can see this shown with my son. This form of technology requires children active participation. This way children are directly involved in the learning process which also encourages children to work together I feel that this way children can work together and help each other. Children learn many things from each other sometimes they learn more from each other more than from adults sometimes. I think this way we can also get away from tracking with more cooperative learning. Speaking as a parent, I like this type of learning it reminds me of hands on learning. Which education in times past was trying to fade out hand on learning education wanted to push standardized testing and less hands on learning. However, I have realized that education is back where it started from the things they wanted to do without they are now coming back and reinforcing these ideas I think that the 21^st century society has made education change where they have lagged behind.



Resources:

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Digital Badge #B

Using Technology To Enhance Learning:

   Is this another way my 3rd grader is saying to me that he is disengaged? What did you learn in school today? Some math and what was your favorite part of the school day?  His answer to me was what he ate for lunch. And Recess. But, why!  I asked him are you telling me you did not enjoy the topic or skill that you learned about today. Now my mind is spinning and my thoughts where everywhere just trying to figure out what his thoughts about school where and why he felt this way. I have heard this since he was in kindergarten. I know the traditional pencil and paper is not enough to teach him with. I realized this when he first learned his colors. I had to go to the tree and we picked brown tree bark. We also picked green, yellow, and brown leaves. He glued the leaves and tree bark down and made his own picture of the same tree that was outside. I think that technology will help my son because it fits many different learning formats that can engage students with academic material. It’s not uncommon for children to complain once in a while that school is boring. Kids get bored in school because they maybe Under-Challenged. Bright students who don’t need a lot of instruction to master a skill or start out ahead of the rest of the class often complain of being bored at school. What they’re really telling you is they are not being challenged by the work in the classroom. Some children are under motivated an under motivated child is not the same as a lazy child. In some cases, the lack of motivation is tied in to a feeling that what he’s learning isn't personally important, that the learning process has no meaning for him and his life (Morin, 2014) 

 Speaking as a parent I think this is my son. And I think with the help of using technology to enhance teaching with instructional practice method will help my son because teachers are interacting with students directly by using the computer to teach the whole class by showing by visual example I think this could change students interest in academics. Math facts in a flash in Renaissance Place motivated my son to learn his multiplication facts it times him and gave him levels as he mastered the others however, if he does not master that level in under two minutes then he did not go on to the next level. I like this program because this is a school program that we can access from home everything is familiar to him I can see all the levels he mastered at school and at home this program is also used for Accelerated Reading,  He likes this program he wanted to learn this way more than using his paper flash cards to learn his facts for 3rd grade this program was first introduced to him in 2nd grade.      

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwgeq-t8AQk

 Barriers to Technology usage:

If the superintendent or the principal says, “Teachers, we are going to use technology in our school, but you decide how and when,” then failure to adopt is assured. There is shortage of excuses for not taking the time to integrate technology into one’s classroom. It takes leadership to say teachers we are going to use technology in our school and this is not optional .Teachers need the support of Administration; from the lack of updated technology to the lack of computers to students. These are still problems within public schools. They have gotten better but the Lack of money is also a problem. If something is considered important surprise, surprise school administrators find the money for that something. Technology must be considered important Yes, there is no new money. So what are schools doing now that they need to stop doing in order to pay for the technology? In other words not only do teachers need Administration to help support them they also need their help financially for Curriculum materials. With the mandate on teachers to teach and review large amounts of curriculum teaches do not have the time to add technology into their style of teaching with all the pressure placed in them for testing purposes however teacher who may only teach one subject matter may be able to incorporate technology into their style of teaching a lot quicker than a teacher who as more than one subject area to teach.

Student And Their Technologies:

Today students uses technology not only in school but they also use it at home. Students today are as the book way “Digital Natives" who have grown up with tablet, smartphones, and mp3 players for music to iPod’s. Today we as people want right now service, I call it! Because of technology we have become use to this way of life kids today do not know what it’s like to live without technology. Computer and online experience has positively influenced student’s attitude about using technology to learn. I know this to be true my 5^th grader likes to use my smartphone as a dictionary instead of going to get the dictionary and looking up her spelling word definitions. When I asked her to look them up in the dictionary She looked at me as though what‘s wrong with you. Many of today's teens spend much of their time with their faces buried in a computer monitor or smart phone. I know us as parents and teacher do not like the idea of the internet as a tool for learning being that it has been used as a way of fun for children and teens we see it as an entertainment source. I could not agree more in this case, however, I do see the benefits it could have if it was used in a productive manner.    

Resources:

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Morin, A. (2014). 4 Reasons Kids Are Bored at School (And What to Do). Retrieved from http://childparenting.about.com/od/schoollearning/a/4-reasons-kids-are-bored-at-school.htm

Norris, C., & Soloway, E. (2011, December 11). The 10 Barriers to Technology Adoption.