INTASC reflection

This is my reflection on the INTASX standards. . In the table, I demonstrated that I have met expectations for the INTASC principles required for this course by describing several ways that I can enhance learning and communication using technology

iphoto presentation

Free online screen recorder

This is our multimedia project. I worked with Marissa and Angelica on iphoto. This is a very easy to use program that allows you to upload photos, tag faces and places, and quickly upload pictures to facebook. I think that this could be useful in the classroom in terms of organizing class pictures and posting them to a website. I could also use iphoto to retrieve images for presentations and assingments. Students could also use iphoto to upload and choose images for class presentations, posters, and assingments.

Oregon Technology Standards and Requirements

The new Oregon standards are attempting to create technology literate students. This means that our students should have access to and be given the chance to utilize improving and evolving technology. This technology should be used in a manner that will facilitate academic achievement and learning. However, these uses of technology should go beyond the classroom. Students should be given the skills to use different forms of technology in their everyday lives. This means using technology for work, for school, and for personal reasons. This should not be something that students learn about and then never use. These lessons should be practical and meaningful to students.

So, what does it mean to be technologically literate? We want our students to be creative and innovative. This means using problem solving skills and technology to form new ways of understanding, learning, and representing information. We also want students to communicate and collaborate. This means using technology to enhance how and when we talk to each other. We want our students to be able to use technology to research and gain access to information. Technology has given us easy access to a multitude of different types of information. We want our students to be able to utilize this to make information access more efficient. We want our students to be critical thinkers and problem solvers. So, we want them to use their resources, including technology, to solve problems they face in their lives. We want our students to be digital citizens: they should be aware of the ethics and moral issues related to technology. Finally, we want our students to be able to operate technology. This means using tools like word processors in their everyday lives.

In middle school, there are so many ways to incorporate technology into the classroom. I plan to create a class website, where assignments and schedules can be accessed. This relates to the first standard, creativity and innovation, because classroom tasks will be represented in a different medium. I also want to encourage my students to use things like email lists and Skype to talk to each other. If they need help on homework, they can email the class, or particular classmates, to get extra help. Skype also allows for audio and visual communication that can be very helpful in terms of studying and assignments. This aligns with the second standard: collaboration and communication. Finally, I plan to have assignments that must be typed. This prepares students for high school and college where this is consistently an expectation and aligns with the technology operations standard.

yodio

I attended the OTEN conference in Forest Grove Oregon. This is a brief reflection on the sessions I attended, creating a class website and learning to use the SMART board.

google spreadsheet

Overall, students with below average test scores had an increase in test scores on tests 6-10. Looking at the chart, one can notice an upward trend. Many of the below average students appear to follow a linear progression, while a few students have periodic spikes. In general, those students with the lowest beginning test scores increased their scores at a slower rate than did students with higher beginning test scores. The averages range from 141.6 to 190.2.

Google spreadsheets was particularly useful in creating the visual representation of the data. This chart makes it much easier to see the overall trend. In addition, google spreadsheets makes it easy to change which data to include in the averages and in the chart.

skype

Skype seems like a very useful tool. I really appreciate that it is free and seems easy to use. The download is very quick, but it is not a web2.0 tool since you have to download the software. I have already used skype to talk to people in the strand. It is fun to just play around with it and see all of the things you can do.

Skype could be very useful in the classroom in terms of video conferencing. My students could listen to and watch a guest speaker via skype without the speaker actually having to come to the classroom. I would be a little bit hesitant to let my students be on Skype for confidentiality and privacy reasons. I could use a permission slip to remedy this.

My students could also use skype to communicate with each other outside of school. They could help each other with homework and studying for tests. If they have trouble, they could contact each other rather than not doing the assignment.

dabbleboard google doc presentation

I was in the group that explored Dabbleboard. This is an online whiteboard that you can build pictures, shapes, and objects. You can insert pictures from your personal computer, or search for images on the web to insert. Then, you can edit the pictures, add to them, and write and draw on them. Also, you can create these images and use the software without having to sign up for an online membership.

This tool would be so useful in the classroom, especially in math. I could have my students explore shapes and different concepts like area and perimeter using this tool. I could also use it for class demonstrations. My students could use this tool to make their own presentations, or create images, charts, and graphs for their presentations.

web2.0 tools

Web2.0 tools is a web based platform that offers several applications. Applications are not stored locally; they are stored on the web. Applications are updated and improved constantly. Web2.0 tools is a social network. Several people can create, share, and edit a multitude of tools. The platform runs independent of which type of server is used (ex- Mac, PC). The software can be accessed any time, from any device that can access the internet.

SurveyMonkey is an online mechanism to gather data. You can make surveys or assessments using this website. You have complete control over how your survey looks and what it contains. You can then choose how you want your results compiled and collected. You can view your results as they are being collected and after your results are collected, you can choose how to analyze the data. The data can be put into a spreadsheet and is kept completely private.

Delicious.com is a way to store and access your personal bookmarks and favorites on the web. In addition, you can choose to share any number of your bookmarks publically. You can access you bookmarks any time, from any computer or device that can access the internet. You can associate tags with your bookmarks so that people can search for them. You can also use their toolbar on your browser so that you can access your favorites at any time.

applications of blogs

Blogs can be very useful in the classroom. I think that I will certainly incorporate some sort of journaling into my instruction using blogs. I want to have my students blog about what they think they are learning and how they are feeling about the course content and work load. I think that this would be an effective way to incorporate student opinion into my teaching. I also want to have students periodically indicate what they think they are strongest in and what they think they are weakest in, in terms of course content. This will be a great way for me to informally assess the needs of my class. If several students feel weak in a particular area, I can take the time to review that material for the whole class.

I think that it would be useful to use blogs as a sort of online community for my students. If my students follow each others blogs, they can use each other as a resource. For example, if one student has a problem on a particular homework problem, they can make a post on their blog. Another student who may better understand the problem could then help the student out through making a blog comment.

biography

Hi! My name is Lacy Smith.

I am 22 years old and I just graduated from Linfield in Spring of 2009. I double majored in math and economics and minored in psychology.

I am hoping to teach middle school or high school math. I am doing my student teaching at West Salem High School and am doing my practicum at Walker Middle School.

My hobbies include running, eating, dancing, all sports (but especially football and basketball), playing outside, shopping, and the color pink. I have three dogs and I love them and miss them so much!

I have a brother and a sister. My brother lives in Connecticut and is starting his senior year at the Coast Guard Academy. My sister lives in Portland and is starting her junior year at Nursing school. My dad is an officer in the US Coast Guard and my mom is an assistant principal at an elementary school.