This class has been filled with tons of great information and sites for me to implement into my future classroom. I would not know about many great educational sites and programs without this class. Something I am so grateful to have learned in this class is how to use Smart Boards. I know that as an educator I am most likely going to have a Smart Board in my class, so knowing how to use it before I have a teaching job is so beneficial. Several great sites that I will take with me to my classroom are: Voki, Glogster, Word Clouds and Bit Strip. There are so many educational ways to implement technology into a subject, it is just being brave enough to do so!
I will definitely have my students create word clouds in my classroom. I am planning on teaching lower elementary and it seems like something that they would definitely be able to do. I also really enjoyed writing in a blog. This is something that I could implement instead of science journals. The students could blog about recent science experiences or just post questions they have. Something else I believe lower elementary kids would really enjoy is me giving my direct instruction using a Prezi presentation. It seems to be a little more interesting than a power point presentation and anything that keeps their attention longer is great! I was a little bummed about this class being a Monday night class, but I am so grateful for it! I definitely learned a lot and have great information about educational sites to take into my classroom from our class Wiki accounts. Overall, it was such a beneficial class! Thanks for everything Mrs. Burdic! See you on Thursday nights this fall :)
Monday, April 23, 2012
The Future of Technology
We are truly entering a new era when it comes to technology! Things are improving and schools are always upgrading to the next best thing. As of right now, schools are including smart boards, ipads, skype and many more things into their classrooms. I believe that before long every school will have these things and virtual classroom might even be something that some school invest in.
I like technology, but just a little bit here and there. I definitely get sad thinking about it taking over the classroom because that does not make someone a good teacher. I will use technology in my classroom such as, smart boards, virtual tours, laptops for research, etc. I will use these things when appropriate, but I will also focus on direct teaching and hands on activities. It definitely impacts me, as a teacher of the future generation, and I am sure I will have to go to many trainings to learn this new technology!
I like technology, but just a little bit here and there. I definitely get sad thinking about it taking over the classroom because that does not make someone a good teacher. I will use technology in my classroom such as, smart boards, virtual tours, laptops for research, etc. I will use these things when appropriate, but I will also focus on direct teaching and hands on activities. It definitely impacts me, as a teacher of the future generation, and I am sure I will have to go to many trainings to learn this new technology!
Academic Honesty
This topic was very eye opening to me. There are many things that I have done in my schooling that I never would have thought were considered as academic dishonesty. This is SUCH an important thing for teachers to teach their students starting at a very young age. We need to be instilling academic honesty in our students at such a young age because it is something they are going to run into throughout all of their years in middle school, high school and college. Teaching academic honesty is just another way to teach positive values to your students.
If the teacher is not resembling academic honesty in their own lives, their students might not take it seriously in their own lives. This is such an important thing for teachers to reflect when they are showing the students information. We have to model the types of behaviors we want our students to resemble in their own lives. Students know that it is wrong to lie and take things that are not theirs, so relate real- life situations to academic honesty when you are teaching your students to value it.
If the teacher is not resembling academic honesty in their own lives, their students might not take it seriously in their own lives. This is such an important thing for teachers to reflect when they are showing the students information. We have to model the types of behaviors we want our students to resemble in their own lives. Students know that it is wrong to lie and take things that are not theirs, so relate real- life situations to academic honesty when you are teaching your students to value it.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is a tremendous growing issues in schools today. I would define cyberbullying as bullying through electronic devices, such as text messages, facebook messages, spreading rumors online, or breaking into someones account with means to cause them trouble.
Some websites to help educate students on cyberbullying are:
STOP cyberbullying
StopBullying
KidsHealth
SafetyWeb
Cyberbullying
Some websites to help educate students on cyberbullying are:
STOP cyberbullying
StopBullying
KidsHealth
SafetyWeb
Cyberbullying
Digital Citizenship for Teachers
Digital citizenship is important for students, but they will have no idea what it is unless teachers are modeling it themselves. In today's teacher world, many teachers could probably get in trouble for violating digital citizenship. From getting permission to show a video or citing a source that you use in your classroom, teachers need to be aware of what they need to do to ensure they are staying true to digital citizenship. We need to make clear the rules of digital citizenship, but if we are not modeling it ourselves, then our students are going to think it is okay.
As a Christian educator I believe digital citizenship is so important for you to reflect in your classroom. We are trying to witnesses to those around us and if we are modeling dishonesty we are not setting a very good example for our students and co-workers. Even with the little things, we need to make sure that we are citing our sources that we use in our teaching because other wise it is stealing. If you think about it this way, would you want someone to use something you wrote without citing that it is yours? We have a reputation to uphold and practicing digital citizenship is one way to do this in our classroom.
As a Christian educator I believe digital citizenship is so important for you to reflect in your classroom. We are trying to witnesses to those around us and if we are modeling dishonesty we are not setting a very good example for our students and co-workers. Even with the little things, we need to make sure that we are citing our sources that we use in our teaching because other wise it is stealing. If you think about it this way, would you want someone to use something you wrote without citing that it is yours? We have a reputation to uphold and practicing digital citizenship is one way to do this in our classroom.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Voki Rainforest Introduction
Here is my second Web 2.0 project. It is a voki giving an introduction to a lesson on the rainforest and the specific kinds of animals found there. I think Voki is a great hook for your students into a lesson. Enjoy!
Voki
Voki
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Prezi Presentation
Here's one of my Web 2.0 projects. It is a presentation for 4th grade patterns in multiplying 0,1,2,5, & 9. Enjoy!
Prezi
Prezi
Monday, March 26, 2012
How to Enhance Learning Using Technology
In today's society, we are seeing technology used more and more in the classroom. This is also starting in much lower grade levels. I believe that technology is a GREAT tool to use in your classroom in moderation. You can enhance your student learning by showing a powerpoint or prezi to introduce the vocabulary words, instead of simply reading them off. This allows students to visually see the words and defintions, along with any pictures you include. Showing short videos to introduce new concepts is another great way to grab your students attention, instead of strictly reading out of the textbook.
Along with these advantages come disadvantages. In many schools you have to put in a date way in advanced to use the computers. This makes your have to plan your lessons around this time and can be tricky. Younger students might also have difficulties when it comes to using technology on their own, so this adds extra instruction time on the teachers part.
If teachers can find a balance between direct instruction using textbook materials and using technology resources, they will have a great teaching style! Students learn way better when teachers add variety and using technology is a perfect example of this.
Along with these advantages come disadvantages. In many schools you have to put in a date way in advanced to use the computers. This makes your have to plan your lessons around this time and can be tricky. Younger students might also have difficulties when it comes to using technology on their own, so this adds extra instruction time on the teachers part.
If teachers can find a balance between direct instruction using textbook materials and using technology resources, they will have a great teaching style! Students learn way better when teachers add variety and using technology is a perfect example of this.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Digitial Citizenship
Digital Citizenship is how you behave with technology. There are three major concepts that make up digital citizenship: respect, educate, and safety. There are three categories that fit into respect, which are etiquette, equal access and law. Law is the electronic responsibilities for actions and deeds. We need to teach out students that they cannot simply take things from someone that is copyrighted, but they need to ask permission. Not doing this would be breaking the law.
As teachers we must educate our students with the use of technology. We need to teach others how to use technology to the best of their advantage. With this, we need to teach ddigital literacy, which is using technology the best way that you can. Also, digital commerce, which is buying and selling of good online, is something that people need to be aware of.
Finally we need to teach our students to protect themselves and others. We have rights and responsibilities, such as free speech and we need to use this responsibly. We need to teach our students to make good choices with the things they post because they never know who might run across it. A precaution we can take is by using ddigital Security such as, virus protection, firewalls, and data back ups. Also, an issue we do not think about very often is how computers is how it can effect our health. Issues can arise with our eyes and hearing, along with carpal tunnel syndrome.
We need to teach our students about digital citizenship because they are going to be using the internet throughout their entire education and day-to-day life. They need to be aware of how to protect themselves when posting things online and what they can do and cannot do. Teaching digital citizenship should be done as young as kindergarten or first grade.
As teachers we must educate our students with the use of technology. We need to teach others how to use technology to the best of their advantage. With this, we need to teach ddigital literacy, which is using technology the best way that you can. Also, digital commerce, which is buying and selling of good online, is something that people need to be aware of.
Finally we need to teach our students to protect themselves and others. We have rights and responsibilities, such as free speech and we need to use this responsibly. We need to teach our students to make good choices with the things they post because they never know who might run across it. A precaution we can take is by using ddigital Security such as, virus protection, firewalls, and data back ups. Also, an issue we do not think about very often is how computers is how it can effect our health. Issues can arise with our eyes and hearing, along with carpal tunnel syndrome.
We need to teach our students about digital citizenship because they are going to be using the internet throughout their entire education and day-to-day life. They need to be aware of how to protect themselves when posting things online and what they can do and cannot do. Teaching digital citizenship should be done as young as kindergarten or first grade.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Validity of Internet Sources
Using reliable internet sources is a huge issue in our world today. Making sure that our students are using sources that give credit to the author is so important to enstill in them at a young age. When wondering if a internet source is reliable there are four things to look at: credibility, accuracy, reasonableness, and support. Credibility means to look at the authors name and authors credentials. Every internet source needs to be a trustworthy source. Accuracy means to use sources that are up-to-date and detailed. The source needs to reflect intentions of completeness and accuracy. Reasonableness is checking if the source is fair, has an objective and is without emotion in their writing to persuade the reader. Last but not least, support means to look at the other sources that were used to create the internet site information. Making sure they are reliable sources is an important fact when dealing with support.
I am sure that I am guilty of using a invalid source, but in high school and college this is something my professors have really enstilled in us. Using non-reliable sources in a paper or project in college is something that would get us major points off a paper or even a redo. In our society today there are so many invalid internet sites, so be sure to use CARS: credibility, accuracy, reasonableness, and support!
Here are some funny internet sites that are NOT reliable...
Pomegranite Phone
Tree Octopus
I am sure that I am guilty of using a invalid source, but in high school and college this is something my professors have really enstilled in us. Using non-reliable sources in a paper or project in college is something that would get us major points off a paper or even a redo. In our society today there are so many invalid internet sites, so be sure to use CARS: credibility, accuracy, reasonableness, and support!
Here are some funny internet sites that are NOT reliable...
Pomegranite Phone
Tree Octopus
Fair Use and Copyright
Copyright and fair use are things that all teachers need to take into mind for themselves, but also for their students. When showing videos in class or news reports, teachers must make sure that they are not in violation of copyright. These two topics can get very confusing if you do not know the restrictions and guidelines of each. When it comes to using musical plays, poems, movies, songs and literature, teachers must get permission to use these items first. Many times schools must buy the rights to use certain materials. There are some fair use guidelines that allow teachers and students to use copyrighted material in the classroom. These include the use for: face-to-face student instruction, presentation at peer workshops and conferences, educational uses in the course for which they were created, and portfolios as examples of their academic work.
Copyright and fair use was not something that I thought about very often, which now I understand, is extremely important as teachers, especially Christian teachers. We must set a good example for our students and co-workers, so not violating copyright would be a good place to start. As teachers of the next generation we need to enstill in them a good work ethic, so by teaching them the proper use of copyright materials, they will hopefully make the right choice when faced with it.
Copyright and fair use was not something that I thought about very often, which now I understand, is extremely important as teachers, especially Christian teachers. We must set a good example for our students and co-workers, so not violating copyright would be a good place to start. As teachers of the next generation we need to enstill in them a good work ethic, so by teaching them the proper use of copyright materials, they will hopefully make the right choice when faced with it.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
A Christian Worldview in Education
Christians who are teachers have two very important jobs: to teach the future generation and to shine the love of Jesus into their lives. Being a Christian in today's society is one of the hardest things to do, but because of God's grace and compassion we are able to succeed. Seeing the world through eyes of those who love Jesus is completely different than those who do not. Yes, the world is an awfully horrible place, but there is so much potential for the word of Jesus to be heard. Making Jesus the center of your life lets you view the world as a place where you have a job. This job would be to reach those who are lost. It is easy to get caught up in how terrible things in our world are right now, but we must have hope and joy in Jesus Christ. As future teachers we must keep a positive worldview. Yes we should inform our students of the not-so-good things going on in our world, but always end with the positive aspect that they can help make a change!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Technology in Education
Using technology in the classroom offers a wide range of differentiation. Growing up I do not remember technology coming into my learning very much until I was in high school. It seemed like every class involved some sort of technology from the internet to using video cameras for research projects. The most technology that was used in my elementary days were videos or cassette tapes. Although these are good uses of technology, there is so much teachers can do with technology with their elementary students.
Today there are SO many great options to use to incorporate technology into your classroom. Lets face it, we live in a society where most of our students are smarter with technology than we are, so why not include it in their day to day learning! Whether you are using your smart board to play a review game or having your students use computers to research volcanos around the world, using technology in your classroom is a whole new world of learning for your students.
Today there are SO many great options to use to incorporate technology into your classroom. Lets face it, we live in a society where most of our students are smarter with technology than we are, so why not include it in their day to day learning! Whether you are using your smart board to play a review game or having your students use computers to research volcanos around the world, using technology in your classroom is a whole new world of learning for your students.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
A look at who I am
I was recently married in October and I'm still trying to get used to people calling me Amy Timmerman. Being married to my husband, Joey, makes life full of fun and adventure. There is NEVER a dull moment with him in my life. I am currently a junior at Grace and will officially be a teacher in a year and a half-December 2013. I am currently a paraprofessional at Gretna Middle School working in the 7th and 6th grade resource rooms. I also work at an after-school program as a lead teacher for kindergarten and 1st graders, which I love! I know God has given me a heart for young children and I can't wait until I have my own classroom.
I always thought I was going to be a nurse like my mom and my older sister. It wasn't until my senior year of high school when I felt the Lord calling me to become a teacher. I have always had a passion for children and it just took me a little while to realize that God was calling me to this profession. I want to be a teacher because I want to inspire children who come from families who do not believe in their educational success. I want my students to feel like my classroom is a safe environment for them to let their guard down and to show them the unconditional love of Christ. I love the way little kids say the funniest and most random things at the right moment, so I am definitely looking forward to always laughing and smiling with them. I hope that I am a teacher whose students look back and remember me as someone who pushed them to do their best and made a difference in their life.
I always thought I was going to be a nurse like my mom and my older sister. It wasn't until my senior year of high school when I felt the Lord calling me to become a teacher. I have always had a passion for children and it just took me a little while to realize that God was calling me to this profession. I want to be a teacher because I want to inspire children who come from families who do not believe in their educational success. I want my students to feel like my classroom is a safe environment for them to let their guard down and to show them the unconditional love of Christ. I love the way little kids say the funniest and most random things at the right moment, so I am definitely looking forward to always laughing and smiling with them. I hope that I am a teacher whose students look back and remember me as someone who pushed them to do their best and made a difference in their life.
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