Comic: How Froggy Practices Reading

Picasso Head

I am a visual learner. Three ways that technology can be used to help me learn:

1. Displaying my vocabulary words on the smart board with images for me to relate them to.

2. Using visual demonstrations through Discovery Education to help me understand the solar system.

3. Using a LCD projector and document camera to allow me see my teacher actually working through an algebra problem.

Wordle

From this poll I learned that my peers preferred young adult books in their childhood for example, The Outsiders was the number one response. I also learned that my peers had at least one good reading experience in their childhood simply because they responded with their favorite childhood book.

Double Entry Journal #2: Bye -Bye Black Board, Hellooooo Smart Board!

Quote:

Teachers can use the smart board to support the students’ learning styles.

Its 2012 and the new blackboard is called a smart board. When reading this article, I was very happy to see that it was giving examples of ways that teachers could incorporate the smart in their classroom. However, it was the specific kind of examples that they gave which really made me appreciate the article much more. The examples given were those that included the students actually interacting with the smart board, not just the teacher. For example, in the article they suggested that an English teacher may write sentences upon the smart board and allow the students to use the smart board tools (colored pens or highlighters) to grammatically correct them. In this case, the student is getting to experience and use the technology while he or she is also learning.

I agree with this quote because I feel that the smart board should be used to support the STUDENT’S learning and learning styles, not just simply the teachers. Many teachers today are known for displaying a ton of notes on the smart board for the students to just merely copy down. Let’s face it, that’s what the black board was used for, people! Let’s use the smart board properly. Let’s get the students interacting with it instead of just looking at it. Let’s try to captivate and intrigue them.

This video is a great example of a way students can interact with the smart board.





Sources:

undefined. (May, 19, 2011). WikiBooks. In Web 2.0 and Emerging Learning Technologies/Learning Styles. . Retrieved January, 25, 2012, from http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Web_2.0_and_Emerging_Learning_Technologies.

Sekolah Tanpa Batas. (Mar 7, 2009). You Tube. In SMART BOARD - ELEMENTARY EDUCATION. Retrieved January 25, 2012, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCfmJCSAG70.

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Double Entry Journal #1:Hand Cramping Should Not Be Crippiling Students in 2012

Quote:

Semester after semester, year after year, “papers” are styled as the highest form of writing (Heffernan 2011).

Response:

Hello people! It is the year 2012, in case you have somehow failed to remember. Let’s be honest. Handwriting a paper is just not acceptable anymore, at least in most cases. In almost every one of my college literature classes when it has come to the mid-term and/or final they have all been “in class” papers. Which basically means; you show up at the time your exam is given and have around one hour and fifteen minutes to compile a final paper, which in most cases determines your grade with pen and paper. This burns me up. First of all, you are put on the spot and second of all, like I said, its 2012. Why must I sit at a desk anxiety struck with my hand cramping from writing?

I do not agree that “papers” are the highest form of writing, at least not in this day and age, maybe thirty or forty years ago, but definitely not today. As an English teacher I would never want to put my students through the dreadful stress and anxiety of writing a paper in class that I experienced. Students need more than just a pen and paper. I mean realistically everyday they are used to things flashing in front of them and running at high speeds. They are texting, face booking, tweeting, and gaming. When a teacher puts a pen and paper in front of them, of course they are going to be bored. Put a computer in front of them. Even if you do have to resort to a paper, let them have sources to use and explore, and branch off of. Allow them to use tools that will enhance their thoughts and ideas in their writing.

Concluding I disagree that papers are the highest form of writing. In some cases, like mine for example, the students are pressured and limited. And wouldn’t you think that a child who is growing up in a technological world should be learning technologically? When we allow students to use technological sources and tools to enhance these “papers”, then I might take them into consideration for the highest form of writing.

 This video states examples and shows some ways that teachers are incorporating technology into their classrooms and giving their students the opportunity to enhance their work.

Sources:

Virginia Heffernan. (August, 7th, 2011). Opinionator. In Education Needs a Digital-Age Upgrade. Retrieved January, 22, 2012, from http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/07/education-needs-a-digital-age-upgrade/.

TheMCESC. (February 28, 2010). You Tube. In A Vision of 21st Century Teachers. Retrieved January 21, 2012, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4g5Mo6YyVw

Allow me to introduce myself...

I reside in the small town of Lumberport West Virginia. I am interested in teaching secondary English and Physical Education, preferably at the Jr. High level. I believe that every child learns in a different way, but for the most part I can express my beliefs about how I feel children learn with one simple quote from Confucius. "I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand." For example, lets say I assign a new set of vocabulary words to my Jr. High English class. To help the students I would first start off by reading through the words and their definitions with them. Secondly, I would then ask the students to make a set of flash cards with the vocabulary term and a picture to help them remember it on the front of the note card, and the definition of the term on the back. Lastly, I would then have them do a writing assignment where they must use each vocabulary word in a sentence properly.

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