Journal 10

Data Collection Surveys: 

As a teacher date collection survey and Excel can be incorporated into the classroom setting. Using Excel can enhance understanding through graphic representations of information. Additionally, Excel reduces the difficulty of plotting data but rather makes it easier to analyze data. Excel is a very dynamic program and in the classroom can be used as a deviation from standard educational strategies as it offers students easier ways to understand information in a more organized manner. 

Classmates Blogs:

Reviewing my classmates blogs offered great insight into the world of education. Through viewing others blogs I was able to understand multiple perspectives and mechanisms for thinking. I was quite shocked how different peoples blogs were but I think the diversity is what made it so interesting. My favorite part of viewing others blogs was that I was able to see how people did assignments differently as displayed on the blog. From seeing everyones assignments I was able to critique my own assignments and what I did well and what can be improved from other peoples inspiration.

Technology Skill: 

I would be interested in learning how to work Adobe Photoshop more effectively. I took a multimedia class in high school where I learned the basics of Photoshop but I am very eager to have a broader understanding of this software. To achieve this goal I think the best thing to do is experiment with the software. I plan on looking online for different tasks that can be executed on Photoshop and generate a schedule for myself and explore these tasks. I hope that through doing this I learn more about the broad range of technological resources available both in and outside the classroom setting. 

ILP #2 Edmodo

ILP #2 Edmodo 

Below is the link to my second independent learning project developed through the teacher sharing platform of Edmodo. I have described the steps I used to create my own personal Edmodo and how it applies to teachers, students, and parents. 

https://voicethread.com/share/13198784

Journal 8

Diigo Skills 

Through the process of using Diigo I have learned many new things in regards to online learning. I think the most important thing that I have learned is how to look for the key concepts in material being read. That is, how to find the facts and separate the opinions to create an overall better textual reading. In the classroom this can be used as a tool to teach students research gathering skills and how to overall obtain the right information. With team members Diigo can teach collaboration which can lead to an overall better understanding of material being presented. In the professional workforce this online program not only teachers how to build collaborative skills but enforces the act of gathering researchable information for projects and different tasks. 

Bloom's Taxonomy 

Bloom's taxonomy is used to classify educational learning objectives and can be supported through the use of PowerPoint. First, PowerPoint can be used as a design element allowing students to create their own sort of reality through presentations. Secondly, students can evaluate their work through peer review of PowerPoint presentations and offer feedback to their peers in regards to one each others work. Then, the presentations can be analyzed where students can draw connections among different works and learn how to improve while also applying this new information gained into the real world and varying situations. From these steps, students will be able to understand a wide variety of perspectives, explain these ideas to others, and remember what was learned, the ultimate goal of education.  

Professional Development 

In society today, technology is selected and incorporated into classroom to support goals of the teachers for the classroom. So, it is essential that the right technology is being used with each grade level as that supports teacher's professional appearance. As technology is evolving, teachers must look for ways to incorporate a wide range of technologies into the classroom to aid the students in their learning. Yet, it is not always that simple as technology has its downsides in the classroom atmosphere. Shown below is a website which will allow teachers of all ages to be in the swing of different tech trends. 

https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/focus/tech-trends.html

This website serves as a guide to todays most popular trends in technology, viewing trends essential for innovation and growth. This tool can be used for teachers to identify what technology may of may not be useful in their classroom. 

 

Journal 7

Twitter 

Twitter has been an engaging tool that I have developed stronger communication skills through. I think Twitter has actively engaged me with the world of technology. Yet, Twitter also has offered me an outlet to communicate with my classmates and become educated as to what they are feeling about the Twitter process as well. Currently, I am experiencing a slight issue of finding my classmates to communicate with because all that I see on my feed is the EME teacher perspective. Yet, I am still familiarizing myself with the tool so I think with time I will be able to communicate with my classmates directly. 

Web Design

I loved the Web Design Assignment! I was able to initially struggle with finding the right tools to use and how to do so but through working the problem out myself I developed stronger problem solving skills and developed my own unique website. In my future career I see both this website design and the newsletter done previously to be beneficial. This website could realistically be used as a tool to communicate with the parents on a regular basis and keep them in the swing of things happening with their children. Below is a link and a quick glimpse of my individual website. 

http://bridgiddavis.weebly.com

Assistive-Adaptive Tech 

Assistive and adaptive technologies help people with disabilities to perform tasks with greater ease and offer assistance or adapt the technology related to the task so it becomes easier to complete a task. Personally I have not seen these technologies in my experience. Yet, I can see this tech being used for people who have take tests online with a specific format due to their mental processing. Challenges in the classroom with this tech could result from not all individuals needing this support, causing the teacher to deviate from the majority of the class and instead focus on one specific student. However, most teachers going into the profession will already be familiar with these types of students and should know how to approach this issue. 

Journal 6

Teacher Pages 

I accessed the class page of a high school English teacher in the Peters Township School District. Observing the page I see first the contact information for the teacher and the academic schedule, so the students are able to know where and when the teacher is if assistance is ever needed. Then, I have noticed that a syllabus is attached to the page detailing what the class curriculum will cover throughout the course of the year. Also available on the page are MLA guidelines and readings for each English class. This class page is a perfect organizational tool for both the teacher and the students to acquire information in a organized fashion. 

https://barefootk.weebly.com

Tech in the Classroom 

As a teacher I see myself using technology very minimally as I plan to teach in a Kindergarten classroom. As a K teacher young children will not be as up to date and willing to use different technologies because they are so young. However, I do plan to implement the Smart Board technology in the classroom when I am teaching in front of the class. I would also consider doing some interactive games via the Smart Board whether that be math, english, or science games. Yet, my ultimate goal as a K teacher would be to mildly expose my children to technology as I value interpersonal classroom connections for the students towards me and other children. 

Technology Sandbox 

The trip to the technology sandbox was so interesting! I found the interactive Smart Board to be the best choice for me as a teacher. I have been previously exposed to this technology as my dad used to be a teacher and I would go to his classroom occasionally. I think the Smart Board shows the perfect balance of technology in the classroom. I could show a wide variety of things on the board whether that be games for the children, information regarding the lesson, or videos to support learning. It is a great tool for young children as they will be engaged in the lesson through interactive means. Below is an image of the technology I saw at the sandbox! 

Journal 5

Diigo

When being first introduced to Diigo I will admit I had a difficult time wrapping my mind around this odd tool. I found it interesting that Diigo is used as a social bookmarking website and can be used to bookmark or tag certain websites. I like that you are able to highlight and annotate as that is really time efficient on the educational front. However, I still find the software quite obscure and at this point I do not fully know how this tool would be of use in the classroom. Is it for teachers? Students? Faculty? Both? I hope to learn more about Diigo as the school year progresses so these questions I have become answered. 

Blogging Experience 

I have enjoyed the blogging process so far. I like how you can write in an informal tone that is relatable to by peers. Although this process has not always been enjoyable as we are given a topic to blog about, I found it very effective. I can see myself writing a blog without having to worry about adhering to a specific prompt. I think blogging allows creativity to flow and I am able to communicate my thoughts in a clear manner without having to worry about using professional language.

Web 2.0 Tools 

Web 2.0 tools are very applicable in the classroom setting as they offer different means of interaction between the teacher and students. An example of a web 2.0 tool that I discovered is WordPress. Wordpress is a content management system supporting a wide variety of content. With this tool the user is given the option to blog, build a fan base, or design a portfolio. In the classroom this can be effective for the teacher to create their own portfolio with a resume and detailed experience history while the students can learn to blog and share their ideas in a different way beyond academic writing. See the link below for more detail!

https://wordpress.com/

ILP #1 Design Google Classroom

Click the link below to access my Google Classroom which I have developed as a classroom tool for teachers. I chose math as the subject area and have posted quizzes, assignments, and announcements that can be viewed on the dashboard!

https://voicethread.com/share/13078419/

Journal 4

Twitter 

My experience with Twitter so far has been minimal as I need to begin incorporating tweeting into my daily routine. Interacting with classmates on Twitter is proven beneficial, especially in college life. In the Twitter app I have both the opportunity to share my own thoughts and questions while also reflecting and responding to other peoples comments. This sharing mechanism can be helpful in the classroom setting as a teacher because information can be spread in a relatively quick manner and others can comment back. So, as a teacher if I have a parents twitter page that would be a great way to keep them in line with whats going on in class while offering them a window of speaking opportunity with any questions or concerns. 

Digital Divide 

The digital divide references the gap between individuals who have access to technology and those who do not. People typically talk about the digital divide in the education system as it causes a lack technological equipment and skills that come with using that technology. The digital divide is typically caused income, race, and educational point. For example, an impoverished family would not have enough income to send their students to a school which provides ample opportunity, but rather they are sent to a less developed school with minimal technological resources. As a teacher I may experience this very same situation and in order to address this I need to remain sensitive to issues related to this divide and support children's educational learning with or without technology as a primary tool.

Academic Software 

Software for students in the classroom serves as a benefit to all the children in practice and has also become a teaching tool for teachers. In my classroom I would make use of the smart board technology where I could display notes, classroom assignments, announcements, and all the students to come up to the board and interact hands on. I would use this tool as both a platform for building technological skills and a way of interacting with the school environment hands on. I would also use online gaming technology for educational games whether that be: math, english, science, or history. From this online gaming, students could develop a conceptual understanding of the subject matter in an engaging way. 

Newsletter

Journal 3

ELA Tech Standards 

I explored the ELA standards common in elementary classrooms, like Kindergarten and 1st grade as those grade levels are my area of interest. As an individual, I feel like I am best prepared to allow the children to explore a variety of digital tools which can be done through the process of hands on learning. Using SmartBoard technology would be an aid to this hands on learning system as students will be able to engage with the material first hand, providing a tactual method of learning. However, using tech features to locate important information would require more skill on my part as I do not think that this skill will be used often in elementary classrooms. But, I can familiarize myself with this method of learning and try it out to benefit the students learning experience in class. 

CPALMS 

I explored the Kindergarten educator toolkit as in the future I hope to teach this area. I first noticed a planner from iCPALMS which makes lesson planning easy by recommending teaching resources for a variety of subjects, in different age categories. Under the math category I found an interactive learning activity which allows children to recognize rectangles, squares, hexagons, and other shapes necessary for development. I found this activity to be engaging for young students as it first reviewed what should already be known before starting the lesson and then branched out and provided a broader explanation as to what will be learned. I think this online framework will be effective in a Kindergarten classroom as young students are drawn to colors, characters, and interactive learning methods, that of which is supported in this activity. 

Newsletter Design 

The newsletter assignment was a great way to build skills in Microsoft Word, but was not without difficulty. When I first began to construct the newsletter I was confused as how to add a boarder and banner overhead but through research and google I developed a polished finish project. However, I think that I could have used more meaningful graphics to complement the text and overall make the page more visually appealing. Looking forward, this assignment offered me new insight into format in Word that I will be using for lesson plans, class announcements, and educational planning as a teacher. Overall, this project taught me to explore new options, experiment with new texts, fonts, and colors, to showcase personal style, and was in return a good opening project to build Microsoft Skills. 

Journal 2

MS Word

As a student, I have used MS Word for note taking as the convenient format options have allowed me to take notes in a time efficient and effective manner. I have also used Word to design campaign posters for SGA elections and generate simple posters or ads for class as necessary. I have seen teachers use word for project planning as they have taught students how to use different graphics, text, and formats to present an assigned project. In the classroom teachers usually use Word to teach different skills which will be necessary for the students to utilize in classroom assignments. So, Word is a tool used to teach a variety of necessary project skills. 

Fair Material Use 

In this day and age being mindful of copyright is necessary. In the classroom, originality is key, whether that originality be from a teachers perspective or students. As a teacher developing instructional materials, I can see myself looking at different lesson plans from other teachers, but ultimately taking that idea and making my own unique set of instructions. Thus, I can use my inspiration from different works and channel my own expressive goals for the students. In order to ensure students create their own works, I would plan to do a lesson at the beginning of the school year on originality so that from the beginning the expectations are outlined, providing no reason for the students to rebel and if they choose to do so, students should be aware of the consequences.  

Tech Implementation Issues

In today's society cyberbullying and decreased productivity are two common issues most notably seen in classrooms. Cyberbullying refers to bullying through electronic means. Yet, although this form of bullying is detrimental, there are a few ways this problem can be mitigated. The key in responding to cyberbullying is if you are a victim, never respond to the threat and instead go to a teacher, talk about what is going on, and outline a plan of action to reduce future instances. Another issue in the classroom is decreased productivity of students which occurs when students have no motivation to preform or do not wish to at all. Dealing with this may be difficult but incorporating hands on classroom activities is a good alternative where children can engage with the classroom in a different manner. The most important thing to remember when dealing with these classroom issues, is that the role of a teacher is to solve these problems and the kids should trust the teacher enough to be able to communicate what's going on.

Journal 1

Why Technology?

The evolution of technology has been one of the best moves for teachers to instruct and students to collaboratively learn. Outside influences have most defiantly encouraged technology in classrooms as it supports team building and accommodates different styles of learning. Technology offers many benefits for students as they are able to both build their tech skills while simultaneously learning educational information in an interesting manner. Overall, teachers choose technology in the classroom as a means of engagement and likewise students conform to this expectation to add purpose to their education.

ISTE Standards

The ISTE standards have been incorporated to provide students with their own individual voice while focusing on the student driven learning process. These standards advocate for teachers to be a leader, learner, citizen, collaborator, designer, facilitator, and analyst. In my view, being a leader is defiantly something that I am confident about because I think that through my experiences in high school and past events, I have learned that it is necessary to empower others, a skill which I hope to incorporate into my classroom in the future years. However, I think being a citizen is out of reach for me currently because as of now I do not fully know a way that I would inspire students to engage in the digital world where I am not fully engaged personally. Yet, observing the teacher and student learning ISTE standards it is quite notable that teachers are meant to be learners just like their students and learn from student insight. 

Digital Native? 

A digital native refers to a person who is brought up during the age of technological advancements and is therefore familiar with all types of technology. Growing up as a digital native, I have seen many differences between students my age and the way teachers use technology. While teachers sometimes cannot figure out how to use the smart board or projector they rely on us, students who were raised in this digital culture. Although teachers cannot always operate new technologies I would not say it has altered my educational experience, just encouraged team building between student and teacher. Looking forward a couple years when I am a teacher I would see myself as being limited technologically and the new generation of students correcting me, as technology will most likely flourish in the years to come. 

All About Me: Blog 1

Hello there!

I'm Bridgid Davis and I am from Gainesville, Florida. I come to FSU planning on majoring in Elementary Education in hopes of becoming a Kindergarten teacher after earning my Masters degree. I decided that I wanted to be a teacher after being employed the summer of 2017 at a children's summer camp and have been passionate to serve children ever since. I hope that my freshman year at FSU is full of new opportunities and academic success, as I work towards my goal of eventually being a certified teacher!

I have taken previous high school technology classes, but have not been enrolled in a class specific to teachers. I am an Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator certified individual. I have previous experience with Microsoft applications like Word, Excel, and Powerpoint. I use Microsoft technology in my everyday life for organization, classroom presentations, and note taking.

In this class I hope to develop my technological skills so I am able to implement different methods of teaching in my future classroom. I hope that through being exposed to different technologies I will be able to understand what works for me and what doesn't as a student. I am looking forward to becoming more familiar with Windows technology and building up skill from there. My ultimate goal is that I understand technology individually and am exposed to a variety of ways to integrate technology in my field of study.