WEBSITE!

Here is a my completed WEBSITE.  It was created through google sites and I have been working hard on it since the beginning of the semester.  Please take the time to look through it and navigate your way through my works!

Thanks

Problem Solving

Why should we teach students problem solving?  It is absolutely crucial to explicitely teach students problem solving skills.  For some students it may come naturally but for others, especially students with special needs, these skills need to be taught like an academic lesson.   Children with special needs, especially the autism population do not understand simple problem solving skills and often need to be talked through problems to reach a solution.  They often attend social skills classes which do this type of training for them. Teaching problem solving can only help students.  If they have a clear and knowing way of what to do when they come across any type of problem be it academic or social they will know what to do to get to a solution. The Big 6 model has 6 steps to problem solving: 1. Define the task 2. Information Seeking Strategies 3. Location and Access 4. Use of Information 5. Synthesis 6. Evaluation.

ICONN

The IConn website is very cool!  I had never heard of it before and I am certain that I will use it often in my future studies and career as a teacher.  It is so wonderful that it gives access to all sorts of articles and book and databases.  I think that in regards to the digital divide this website helps to close the gap. It is free to all Connecticut residents!  Earlier in the semester we learned about how much a divide there is in different socioeconomic classes and their access to technology and resources.  This service is FREE.  It has so many great articles and databases.  I think that as an educator even after my schooling is finished is will be absolutely crucial for me to stay up to date with current issues and topics and this website will be incredibly useful in accessing this.

One database I thought was great was the Junior World Encyclopedia, which would be a wonderful tool for young students to use!  The Kids Info Bits also looks like a great place for younger students to learn and get information from.  All of the articles and databases are great and I will be sure to use this a great deal!

Computer Delusion

This article was very interesting, as it makes one look at the good and 'bad' of computers and technology.  What it comes down to is the fact that too much of one thing is never good.  Yes, it is undeniable that computers and technology have brought education for both students and teachers to a new level.  And yes, it is undeniable that computer and technology skills are more than needed in todays world, and will most certainly get one for in life.  But no, they will not take a person all the way through life on its own, and no that is not the only medium through which a student should be learning.

 I think that currently most schools do a great job of integrating technology and computer skills into the curriculum and daily learning and teaching.  At the school I work at teachers use all sorts of technology like smart boards, educational websites, and netbooks for students to gain access through.  There are scheduled times for students to use the computers in the Media center as well.  However, I think that it is of the utmost importance for students to learn and do assignments through classic, non computer based mediums.  Yes computers and technology can always be used to broaden and enhance, but they should not be everything. Students need to learn how to write, not just type.  They need to learn how to draw, manipulate and create concrete designs, not digital ones.  A huge piece is also the social context that is taken away when all that is used is computers.  Especially in todays world of technology there is already enough tech device based acitivity for children ranging from computers, to video games, text messaging, and play stations, that it is ever more important for schools to be pushing the social aspects and concepts that children need to be learning.

Reflections

I have found many parts of this class very interesting and I believe they will prove to be useful in my future teaching. As a pretty tech savvy person I found most of the concepts pretty easy to pick up and felt adequate as navigating myself through using the different softwares and programs. Children in todays world grow up using all sorts of technologies at such early ages, that I think they will thrive from using technology in the classroom and will find things incredibly easy to pick up too. I especially found the non linear power points to be very interesting as I was proven wrong about knowing most things about power point. This was a new concept to me and I found that making a non linear power point would be a great ting to make in my class as a teacher one day. It could be great teaching way and a great way to make a 'quiz' of sorts for students.

As a future special education teacher, I think some pieces of the technologies we learned about could be used to help students be able to reach their creative, unique, and individualistic side. Technology often motivates students.

However, the population I hope to work with is often lower functioning so I dont think some of the programs like Photoshop will be applicable to them.

Digital Divide Post

From reading these articles it is pretty clear that there is in fact a rather large digital divide. Mostly it is between different socio-economic populations and genders. These articles have brought up the clear point that not everyone has the same access to technology, therefore having different levels of knowledge. Also, that girls are often less knowledgeable in digital technology when compared to boys. The Digital Equity article brings up issues of how technology is used in the classroom and how it makes learning for students enhanced and more enjoyable and interesting for them Unfortunately, in urban and lower income cities digital technology is not as readily available for students either at home or at school because of low budgets. That right there is the divide between higher income and lower income school districts. As for us educators it means that if we work in a lower income school district we wont have the resources to allow our students to use to enhance their education. Educators in higher income districts will have an abundance of resources for technology use and can be assured that most students have access to technology at home. This gives them freedom to be more creative with lessons and assignments that might be more tech savvy and therefore more interesting for students and therefore enhance their learning. The other articles discussed the No Child Left Behind Act and the Gender Differences within technology use. In discussing the NCLBA it was brought up that technology is sometimes forced onto students because it is said that doing programs will up test scores on standardized assessments. Solutions to the digital divide are definitely needed and definitely difficult to come up with but I think first and foremost people should try to get students access to technology. Hold fundraisers, enter competitions...there are many ways to go about getting resources for schools. I also think that there needs to be a medium of using technology in school and for assignments.

Inquiry based learning and historical teaching

As a teacher I think I have subconsciously used Inquiry based teaching.   I work mostly with children with autism, who do not vocalize much of their questions and feelings about things, but according to this website, Inquiry based learning is about finding the truth about things, exploring, and asking questions.  It is about finding out about the world and what meanings things have.  I think that a lot of the work I do with my students is through inquiry because together we find ways to best learn and explore our surroundings.  We question each other as to what works best and how to find the best things for us.  I try to teach them pertinent information and go about it in interactive ways to further their understanding and allow them to explore topics through what interests them to the best of their ability.  Through my own learning I have gotten the opportunity to do a great deal of Inquiry based learning.  In many of my college courses we were taught through real life experiences.  For various different projects we were given options to choose topics within the subject that were of interest to us and explore them hands on through interviews, experience and research.  I was given opportunities to explore the unknown community and world around me.  In my future classroom as a special education teacher I think inquiry based learning will be a better fit but historical learning will also need to be incorporated.  Inquiry based learning allows for my freedom for the students to explore and wonder but historical based learning is concrete and is still needed.