Chapter Eight: Technology Intergration Matrix

The example I decided to go with for this week's assignment was Collaborative Learning Entry Level. This activity would correspond to everyday use in classrooms all over the world as collaborative learning is essential to today's teaching and learning. Technology can be confusing, but it is a very important part of the classroom. With Collaborative Learning something difficult such as new technology can become easier, making it a great resource.

Collaborative Learning exhibits traits from NETS For Teachers and can take a small piece from all five. Both Students and Teachers can take good advice from Collaborative Learning. In addition students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.


At this point in the semester I would say Adaption and Infusion are my levels of comfort. I am a fan of using creativity and not being afraid to "not follow the crowd". Technology gives a good way to have someone express their own thoughts and take initiative when trying to learn a new topic. This was a good assignment to help compare and analyze a few things we might have already read about. Again a very informative assignment.

Week 7 Podcast

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This week I went over math answers from a quiz with a podcast presentation. This assignment was exciting and fun. Podcasts help students stay interested and are apart of classroom technology.

Week 6: The 21st Century Skills Debate and Schools Kill Creativity

"I'm kind oF A big Deal" is a shirt 21st century skills would not wear because the importance of 21st century skills are in fact a big deal and far from a fad. All of the articles had a great deal of value in each of them and the one I enjoyed the most was The Value of Teaching 21st century skills from The Boston Globe. I strongly agree that the skills are extremely important to be taught and will only become out of date if someday we do not use these specific skills anymore. One of my favorite lines from the article is "That is why the debate over the value of teaching students so-called 21st century skills is baffling" I would prefer to use the word "comical" but baffling will do. If you think about it, because I know I have pretty much all the jobs I had since I graduated from college had nothing to do with what I learned in college. My game design position was from the 15 years I played card games. My position at the start-up company came from my entrepreneurial experience I gathered through out the years of coming up with ideas and trying them. Then finally my position as a financial adviser I just fell into and pretty much no direct skills from college I carried over to it, even though I took many finance classes.

The simple fact is that for people to progress and learn things relevant the topics that are being taught always need to change.

So sure if the question at hand is are 21st century skills important to teach, and the answer in the 21st century is of course "Yes". I think overall teaching is on the right track since this is coming to notice. There are a few things that I might not agree so heavily with, for example state testing, since most of the exams given are not related to 21st century skills.

In the video Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity the point he is trying to get across is that schools are teaching kids not to make mistakes and is taking away the confidence from the kids to try new things. I agree with his point, but on a different level. I truly believe that it is more than just schools doing it, it is society. If there is one thing I never cared about it is what society says. If everyone is going out to the bar on a Saturday to get drunk and I want to go to a friends house to play a game, that is what I am going to do. Because it's not about killing the creativity from kids it's that people are scared to be wrong and if society tells them to the bar then they're going do it. I think the people who are creative and are not to afraid to be wrong, also need to have good morals and understand how to learn and listen. Many do not and they become either social outcasts or criminals, so having the teachers teach a certain way is kind of taking a "hedged bet" but either way a teacher can't fully control the outcome of a student.

Week 5 power point voice over

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 After a tough time figuring out how to add in sound I came to realize it was well worth it. Something like this that can be sent out to parents is very valuable. I tried to keep the power point fun and entertaining. My goal was to briefly go over the slides and give the parents that did not meet me yet a sense of who I am . In conclusion, I was happy with this project and thought it was highly educational.

Week 4 Back to School Presentation

Above is an embedded power point presentation. Back when I was in high school something like this did not exist and the usage of power point just started. This week I gave a run down of what is going on in my Algebra 1 class and what the parents and students should expect.

WEEK 3 - Philosophical - 21st Century Learning Task 2

Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision-Making. Is the standard I chose to focus on.  The major points shown are as followed.

  

Reason Effectively

Use Systems Thinking

Make Judgments and Decisions

Solve Problems

Each of these are the major focuses on this particular standard. For my particular content area (math) this corresponds fairly well with the overall base of the subject.
 

What I would do is break the class into groups and play a strategy game. The game I would want the class to play would be a social critical thinking game called Werewolf. Werewolf rules can be found here.

I would want my students to A.) get into a critical thinking sense of mind and B.) a problem solving one. Now some my think this is more of a psychology game, which it is. However, just as there is in a math problem there is information that needs to be drawn out then applied to the problem. Combining content areas is something that is important for students to think in an open frame of mind. Which will allow students to think in a critical way.

Here is how a rough draft of step by step to the class would be given.

Step 1: Explain and go over the rules to the students after I had them read the rules of the game for a homework assignment.

Step 2: I would discuss the problem solving and critical thinking skills this game has to offer. I would ask for their opinion now (before they play) and after to see whatever thoughts they had changed.

Step 3: I would pass out the cards and the game will start. I would grade them on how they play the game on an individual level rather than have it be based on whether or not their team won.

Step 4: I would have them write a report (1 page) on what happened, their experience, and what they learned that could be applied to the route they would take to solve problems.

Step 5: I would play the game again and view their differences from game 1 to game 2 after the paper has been turned in.

From there on out I would (when it applies) ask how a future problem given to the kids related back to this exercise.

This would be a fun exercise and I feel the students would learn a great amount when it comes to Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision-Making.

 

 

WEEK 3 - Philosophical - 21st Century Learning

This week's blog response comes after two very interesting videos. The main point it seemed that the videos were trying to make is the importance of technology in classrooms. However, the importance is matched by other factors. One of the questions in the assignment is; When you job search and interview, what will you look for in a district and in a school? 

In the video Chatam High School one point that is mentioned and I strongly agree with is that teacher need to become more of entertainers than just teachers. This is something I would keep in mind when looking for a teaching position. I think I am one who can entertain a group and make their learning experience more enjoyable. I would also look at districts that have the most advanced technology. In the video they were focusing strongly on smart boards in classrooms. This is important to make sure kids are learning with technology. Another point they made that I always wanted when I was in high school is having a podcast so kids could go home and listen to the lecture over and over again. Years ago when a student missed class they would have to ask someone else for the notes. Now at any time they could listen to it and not have to worry about contacting a student for the notes that might not even be accurate. This should help to keep everyone on an equal playing field, especially if all kids will have access to use school computers at all time.

The article also covered similar points with the overall concept being teachers needing to go the extra mile and work with students rather then just teach them. This leads to the change that teachers now need to learn both the material and the best route to go to teach. This leads to teacher to teacher meeting and discussions with students even more important than before. I also really enjoyed how honest the one teacher was in the video as she stated that if she doesn't know how to use a certain technology tool she would just ask a student how to do it. Being open minded is an important part of being a teacher and a good way to improve on how you teach.