Blog 10

I think an interesting topic was how my classmates would relate to using the different tools that we would learn from class earlier. I think it is very important for us to learn these skills and I think that all of the students also think this as well. Many of the students know that technology is expanding and that we need to expand with it. Students also have found that Excel is the least program that they know about. Microsoft Word and Power Point are the most frequently used throughout high school so most of us know about them but Excel is rarely used and that is a weakness to most of the students.
The next technology skill I would like to learn next would be learning about the different computers and their programs. Many people these days also use MAC computers and I would like to learn more about them and their different programs. I think those computers are very interesting and that would help me expand my horizons with technology because I would be learning of the similarities and differences of these different computers. I also think that MAC computers are becoming more popular so knowing more about them can be very useful.
I think that learning about the different programs and what I can use them for will help me with my future educational technology goals. Technology is always growing so I think that knowing the software to use and the proper hardware can make things a lot easier. Being able to go to different schools and use their software without always asking questions is always a good thing. Also, knowing the programs and being able to get creative is a good thing so that you can get your point across but still have the audiences attention.

Blog Nine

I think teachers have various resources especially on the Internet. With websites growing every day teachers can find new sources daily. A good source that I found was a place called Teachers Net. It is at www.teachersnet.com and contains many resources for teachers of all grades. It also has a message board so that all teachers can give their opinions on everything from the site to teaching techniques. This can help improve teaching skills and techniques with some constructive criticism.
The site also contains helpful lesson plans that give teachers ideas for certain subject matters. This is very useful when teachers just are not feeling up to making a new activity or just need an idea. I think that this website can help because it gives teachers various ideas on activities for different subjects. It can also give them feedback on teaching styles and techniques.
I think that a a good tool for teachers is a message board that is dedicated to certain grades. I think that getting input from others teachers that are also teaching in your grade level is better. I also think that messages boards that are focused solely on your grade level can make it easier for teachers to get advice with teaching and will make things more organized. Organization is very important especially with teaching because you want to try and get input quickly and easily, not have to search through everything.

Chapter Eight

In chapter eight I learned that though having a computer may be easier than writing things down, there is a higher risk of you losing it because of the many risks and viruses. There are computer security risks that can cause damage to your computer and the loss of information that is vital to your computer. Also, viruses are a major factor to the loss of data in your computer. It is very easy to catch a virus within your computer. People have now made it to the point that if you open an email that is unknown, you can infect your computer with a virus. Common viruses are worms and Trojan horses. These viruses can destroy anything within the computer and your data will be gone.
With viruses come the programs to detect them such as antivirus programs. With these programs you can detect, disinfect and protect your computer from harmful viruses before you catch them. These programs are used to look for programs that try to modify the boot, operating systems or other programs within the computer. Antivirus programs have also grown to the point that they can remove or repair infected programs and files. This can help with lost files or deleted programs that were taken by the virus.
This week I learned a lot about PowerPoint and how useful it really is. Windows PowerPoint is helpful because it attracts viewers, or students, to a lecture. With PowerPoint, you can give a lecture and show your ideas to grad your audience. I think this is very helpful in teaching because sometimes just giving a lecture is boring. With a PowerPoint, you can grab the attention of your students with vivid pictures, videos, and also animation.

Chapter Seven

Chapter seven basically evaluates technology and the uses of it in our daily lives whether it be at work or at home. An example would be the evaluation of web resources. It is said that when evalutating a web resource, teachers should take into consideration many accounts. These accounts include affiliation, authority, content, currency and the audience. These are important because these can allow the teacher and student to know if the resource if legitimate or not. Such as the use of currency, this tells when the web resource was last updated.

Chapter seven also speaks of the strategies used to integrate technology into the classroom. It was said that teachers had to change the traditional roles of being the instructor to becoming the facilitator of learning. Computers have also multipled in classrooms. It was once one computer per classroom, then it changed to a few and now schools have computer labs for students to use. Also, with the many resources now students can become more creative with classroom presentations and teachers as well with classroom demonstrations.

I think that Wiki is a useful tool for teachers and students. It post information and organize so that the reader can easily find what they are looking for. You can also organize your resources and have them for easy access. I can also make it creative by adding pictures to distinguish the different information on my page. I found that I can also add other people to a home page and have it so that they can access my account as well. This way we can share information and also edit each other's pages easier.

Chapter Six

Chapter six explains the concept of technology and education merging together. Teachers now are motivating their students to learn because instead of lecturing, they guide students. With the help of technology, students can learn independently and with more freedom. With the education and technology coming together there are still some hurdles to overcome, such as budget, lack of training for teachers and lack of support. These are the obstacles that are holding technology back in many schools.
The plans for technology integration into the classroom are not simple because of the need for properly trained teachers. Also, the lack of technology in many schools does not make it easily accessible. Teachers have to plan ahead to use computers and technologies in the classroom. They must also plan what they are going to be teaching and the objective behind it all. I think that one of the best ways is to create learning centers so that every student can have a access to a computer at some point.
I learned that the web can be very useful for students to research. The Web evaluation that we made can be useful to many teachers. They can give them to their students so that they can evaluate the website they visited. This also allows you to check on their process of research. Making the evaluation was not that difficult but finding a way to make it useful for students in various ways may have been. I think it is important for children to research the Internet because it contains a lot of useful information and has access to multiple websites.

Chapter 5

Chapter five discusses digital media and how it can be useful today for teachers and our society in general. The use of graphics and audio make presentations more interesting for the audience and more interactive. Also, the use of videos can also be helpful in giving examples of scenarios. Instead of explaining your thought process, you can just show a video of what you are trying to explain. With the help of faster modems, it makes it easier to watch these videos and use digital media.
This also contributes with educational software, which has made it easier to teachs students. Being able to have educational games and tutorials help make teaching fun. This also will gove students a motive to learn. Instead of students having to go to school and read, do busy work, and not pay attention they are able to play a video game and enjoy learning. I think that using this for education will allow students to grasp certain concepts and enjoy learning.
I have learned that searching the web is not that difficult. I do think that sometimes you need to really make what you are looking for very precise though. Being able to have searched the web for all of those different concepts helped me because I use to search for very broad subjects. The web is growing more and more which may also make it harder to find exactly what you are looking for sometimes. This can also allow you to get more information or ideas.

Blog 4

Chapter four states the many different devices used to store data. I think that storage is probably one if not the most important device within the computer. It allows you to save your place in a document and then you can later return to it and make any corrections or even add information. The devices that are now used to store this data is also very useful. Thumb drives and floppy disks make documents portable and easier to access.
I found that many people are familiar with the same programs as me. Though some students also seem more capable and also very familiar with the program. I think that this class is to help excel their knowledge of the various programs. I also found that many students are trying to learn more about Excel and know a lot about Word and Powerpoint. I think that everyone is pretty equal with what they want to know more about and already know about.
I think that I learned a lot about the program Inspiration. I do not think I would have ever used it before. I now think that Inspiration is very unique and gives making a diagram a more creative perspective. Inspiration is something I will use in teaching because it is easy and resourceful.

Chapter 3

I think that knowing your computer is very important. The different applications that your computer contains will allow you exceed and become more creative with your work. Packaged software is also very useful because not all computers come ready for you to use with Microsoft Word and all of those different programs. Also, having shortcuts for the different programs is very useful as well. The icons that represent them have become very modern and being able to open an application without going through the hassle of looking for it within the computer makes it easier for users.
Graphics has also become very popular to users because it allows them to be creative. You can create different backgrounds and make your computer your own. You can also create a more eye catching presentation or advertisement. This also gives students a wider range of creativity for projects and presentations. Graphics has become very common and something that is used frequently.
Schools also use software for organizational purposes and allows teachers to track students records. It is also used for the learning environment such as learning a foreign language, exceeding your math skills or even help correct grammatical errors in your essay. Software has become very useful to me in school because it allows me to become more creative with work. It also helps me with some of essays and the formats. Software is very useful at home and even at school.

Chapter 2

Networks are now based upon the World Wide Web and even advertise their products on it. Things such as EBay and other businesses have made it easier for customers to shop and buy at the click of a button. It even allows students to get more in depth information then they would learn in class. Schools have made it more accessible for students to get on the web and use it by providing more computers for students and teachers. With all of the networks that can be used, the Internet is made easier to communicate whether it be wired or wireless. Also with high- speed or broadband, students can surf the web even faster and retrieve the information needed the ease.
Schools have also used this to their advantage by making it easier to retrieve a students information and records. They can also access resources and communicate with other teachers and educators all over the world. The security of the Internet has also made it very beneficial. Teachers can put a block on inappropriate sites and the students would not be able to enter that site. Technology will continue to grow and students will be able to use the Internet and computer programs to become successful in the future.

Chapter 1

Chapter one explains the basics of computers and technology. It tells us how computers have become a common thing in many households and how it is all around us. Computers have evolved from a telegraph to a large mainframe computer and now a personal computer or laptop. We now can even enjoy our favorite television shows and music on our computers and made things more interactive. This has also overcome our youth and their response to technology.
The youth of today has become more media dependent than previous generations. Computers have interactive learning and multitask to communicate or do anything. With all of the new technology kids today have much more to do with technology. Children are now raised by technology and it is an everyday source of information or communication for them. With computers it makes searching for information sources, talking to their friends and listening to music at the same time all possible.
Education has even begun to use more and more technology to teach their students. With online textbooks and even classes, soon enough there will be no need for teachers. Technology will is now able to answer student’s questions about any problem and give examples. Computers have made teaching easier but with the growth of technology, teachers may not be needed anymore.

Blog One

My prior experiences with technology are very wide. In high school I took a course about computers and the different programs within them. I did learn a lot but my skills with using Excel lack. I am very good with Microsoft Word and Powerpoint because I had to write many papers and also make many presentations but I never had to much experience with Excel. I am always on the computer just going on the internet so I am very capable of how computers work. Technology is not very difficult for me because I have lived around almost my whole life also because my father works with computers, so he always gets a new gadget every once and a while.
In this class I hope to learn more about mostly Microsoft Excel because that is my weakest point. I also hope to learn new things about other programs so that I can better my computer skills. I want to expand my knowledge of computers and their programs. I feel that in the long run I will be able to use what I have learned to get a job and also teach in a variety of ways. This will make me a versatile person and help me deal with computer better.
I learned that my learning style is pretty basic. I am mostly a sequential learner and I knew that because I do like things in order and I do not like to just get the answer but not know how I did it. I am also a visual learner, but I usually do well with lectures and do not focus on the pictures very much so I thought that was a surprise. I also saw that I was an active learner, which I agree with because I would rather do something than just think it in my head. I think you get more done when you go for it rather than just wait around and think about it.