Rachael+Bryant

My name is Rachael Bryant and I am a junior in the special education program concentrated in language arts and natural science. Like I said in class I am an outdoor enthusiast and I enjoy hiking, canoeing, horseback riding, camping, etc. My choice to study special education stems from my family and friends, which some required special education services. I feel there is a lot of stigma surrounding special education and it is a field of education I feel strongly about.

1. In today's modern society, it is crucial to use and teach technology in the classroom because the rest of the world thrives on it. The modern classroom must keep up with the modern world, and to deny a classroom the use of technology would greatly set them back without it. We not only teach students the necessary material required in a curriculum, we use technology as a tool to further enhance the learning process and we teach our students these tools for further success.

2. Yes and no because students are still being taught almost the same material in a curriculum but the technological tools used by the students and teachers to enhance learning this material has dramatically changed.

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 * __Reflection__**

After reading the Clark article I feel that my opinion on the benefits of technology outweigh the problems and further reinforce my opinion that technology in the classroom does enhance the learning environment. With technologies such as computers and smart boards information can be accessed quickly and lectures can become fascinating with the use of PowerPoint presentations. Online games can influence study guides for tests and exams. With the world quickly developing new technologies, I feel strongly that the classroom should not deny the students learning new technologies for future jobs and other situations where technology is used in the real world.


 * __Constructivist__**
 * Bases research on observation and scientific study.
 * Encourages students to engage in different learning techniques, ex. experiments and reality problem-solving and then reflect and discuss what it means.
 * Become expert learners by questioning themselves and their methods.
 * Teacher's role is to encourage the learning and reflection process, no interference by giving the answer.
 * Students work together in groups rather than individually.
 * Knowledge is viewed as broad and changing due to experiences.
 * Encourage students to ask their own questions.
 * Makes room for multiple intelligence.

__**Objectivist**__
 * Based on observable behavior to determine its outcome.
 * Rewards good behaviors to influence that desired behavior or learning.
 * Emphasis on relation between environmental variables and behavior. Environment influences the behavior or learning outcome.
 * Teacher is in complete control of the environment

http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/constructivism/index.html This is an obvious and good example of a constructivist learning environment. I like how it is challenging and encourages the children to initiate their learned skills into a real world situation that can prepare them for future occupations after secondary education, in this case a possible career as architects and engineers. My experiences in a constructivist classroom was in my senior year in high school in a Biotech program I was enrolled in. We had a Capstone project, using the material and projects we learned the previous year in Biotech 1, to create a real world scenario with what we learned. My friend Melinda and I did ours using an ELISA test (Enzyme Linked Polymerase Assay) to determine the presence of a virus such as the Flu or AIDS and we decided to do a scenario with it using the Bird Flu, which was the panic of the day. We did not work with real viruses, but it did give us the experience to use our science, writing, math, and public speaking skills to the test and we did end up taking this to a regional competition that placed us in second and took us to state competitions. Our teacher was there to guide us but did not give us answers or get involved in doing the project with us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-S54bbX6eA I LOVE THIS MOVIE! This is a funny and good example of the objectivist method of teaching because it does not allow the student to find the answer for themselves, instead the teacher gives the answers and the students are not prompted to learn it for themselves. They are just told the answer. In this scenario the teacher does not give the students time to react and answer the question. This seems to be the traditional way of teaching in most schools. I encountered this a lot throughout my school experiences from kindergarten all the way up to now in college.

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__**Game Stations**__

1. Fun Brain [] 2. Drill-type games 3. I played with the Math baseball game on this website and it meets the Ohio Academic Standards in math concerning operations and algebraic thinking from K-2 grade because it adds and subtracts numbers within 20 using mental strategies and it represents and solves problems using addition and subtraction. The baseball home runs are made by each problem done right. 4. I had fun playing this game. For one I love baseball, and two I had trouble in second grade learning adding and subtractions when my teacher would always give us a timed quiz in addition and subtraction problems, usually 30-40 problems. I never finished them and counting my fingers was time consuming. I felt that this game would have helped me better in second grade to memorize without counting my fingers since some of the problems were repeated.

1. The Great Gatsby [] 2. Virtual Environment game 3. It analyzes how particular elements of a story or drama interact for 6-7 grades such as Nick changing from an ordinary middle class person to a rich man with all the points accumulated at the party, and retells a story using key details and theme for grades 3-5, such as Nick trying to find Gatsby at the party. 4. I have read the Great Gatsby more than once and it is one of my favorite books. I thought the game was fun and quite cute at times, especially with the silly music. What I like about this game is that it is addicting, even though you know that Nick does find the elusive Gatsby in the book, but in video game it makes it more anticipating and exciting.


 * __Website Evaluation__**

I evaluated the __Tree Octopus__ website. Due to the wrong information about the topic and the lack of an author or author's website led me to believe that it was fake. It had pictures that were fake or did not identify with the subject being discussed in this website. The website is very well detailed with links including facts, pictures, media, and activities but the misleading information and anonymous author are good indications that this website is not a valid one.

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 * __ISTE Standards__**


 * 1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity.**

Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. //b. engage students in exploring real world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources//.

By participating in this class using the hands on experience of teacher education technology, I learned about the various methods of using technology in the classroom. We didn't just learn about computers, we learned how to use them in a classroom and how to facilitate this technology into a classroom setting on subject matter, problem solving, and authentic problems concerning real world issues. The real world issues we explored for ourselves concerned the progressive integration of technology into the classroom with its benefits and problems. I have learned that technology is a powerful tool to use in the classroom, yet it can be abused and concerning its ethical uses such as bullying, looking up inappropriate content, and privacy issues. One lesson that we have learned and studied in this class where students use technology to gain real world insight for educational development was the __Constructivist vs. Objectivist__ section where one of the videos showed a constructivist classroom where students put their skills together and work in groups on an architecture project. This allowed the students to gain hands on experience in a real world setting involving the career of an architect.


 * 2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments.**

Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S.

// d. Provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching. //

Developing the test was a good example of designing an assessment based off of a lesson plan we had to select according to the Ohio education standards. I did my test on a lesson plan concerning rocks and minerals with multiple choice and true/false questions. After we designed our tests we posted them on Google Doc's to be observed. There are many different ways to access a test online. Our blackboard site gives us an opportunity to take tests and quiz's online and then view our results online where grades are recorded. Not only does it record a grade for a test, quiz, or assignment online, but it also calculates grades thus far and helps the student keep track of grades. 
 * 3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning.**

Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society.

//b. Collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation.//

This is a good method of keeping track of students success in school with the student and parents. Parents can be involved in their children's education by accessing the internet to see what they are studying and communicate with the teacher to monitor the progress of their child's education. In the section we studied on __Internet Safety__ we learned how to communicate with parents as if it were real life situations in their concerns of their child's safety using the internet. We can communicate through email to inform them of their child's safety on the internet and pacify any concerns they have by answering their questions and provide them information about the internet safety methods of the school.


 * 4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility.**

Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices .

a. advocate, model, and teach safe legal and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources.

We already learn and teach the importance of quoting and citing sources when we write papers and are careful not to plagiarize anyone else's work. This also concerns internet use when students create a presentation or other such computer based assignment or project to be careful not to take any sources without seeking permission or citing them. We went over this when we studied the section on __Ethical Use of Technology__ where students used flickr.com to post their work on this website for all to access. The concerning issue in this section was not just students using information without proper citation and copyright respect, but also their work being used without their consent on flickr.com by other sources. This is a major concern, not just for students and teachers, but parents too who are concerned about their child's privacy using the internet at school. It is important to be aware of these things about children's rights with their work being used without their permission.

 Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning, and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources.
 * 5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership **

// b. Exhibit leadership by demonstrating a vision of technology infusion participation in shared decision making and community building, and developing the leadership and technology skills of others. //

In the lesson plan presentation I presented with my group members on 2nd grade reading for Special Education, I learned to demonstrate leadership with the use of technology to teach the class not just about 2nd grade reading, but about Special Education and the technological uses to implement its instruction. It is one thing to teach, but another to teach with the use of technology. With all the technological applications we can use to demonstrate our knowledge of subject matter and technology and share it with our students. I learned from watching other group members present their lesson plans with the use of technology and I taught as well how to use technology in a Special Education environment and received feedback on how to improve my skills as a teacher. The diigo site also allowed us to explore lesson plans to use in the classroom involving technology.


 * __Final Reflection__**

What I have learned from this course to take with me in my journey to becoming a teacher is a better understanding and use of the different technologies that can be applied to a classroom. Before I took this class I didn't realize how little I knew about technology and its use in the classroom. I thought I had it all figured out with my own school experiences using technology, but now I have learned that their is a fine line between the teacher and the student's understanding of technology. I look back to when I was in high school and realize how limited the technology was with no computer lab, no smart boards, and no cell phones to involve in school projects. It is so different now in college having access to all these resources, and even though I am using them now realize that not many of the public schools I will teach at have the technology that I now have in my hands, but that may change at any time and it is crucial that I know how to use Ipads, smart boards, and other technology based applications to use in the classroom. I not only learned the importance of emerging technology in schools, but the fun in using this technology to use in lesson plans I had to find and post to diigo. There are so many games and lesson activities involving different technological tools to gain student interest in the subject matter and prepare them for success in the world. I also learned the importance of internet safety concerning cyberbullying and student privacy using the internet. I learned that the it is not just the school's responsibility for monitoring and filtering information to access, but the teacher's as well. This has been a fun, exciting, and enlightening class for technology use for teachers. 