Desyre Nguyen student blog

Week 14 Journal

desyre1986 — Wed, 06 May 2009 19:43:53 +0000

This week, I didn’t observe any new technology from previous weeks. My classes are all ending, so we really just have group discussions- absolutely no technology was used, except for in my one class. In the other education course I’m taking, we had all semester to create a whole unit on a particular science subject. My group chose to base our unit plan on the digestive system. By the end of the semester, we had to have a binder that included everything (from overview, to lessons). Our overall binder consisted of 70 pages for a digestion unit plan. The last day, we had to present our unit to the class. Everyone used a PowerPoint presentation in order to do so. The presentation only had to be able 20 minutes, but I think using this technology was very efficient for presenting this sort of material. With all of the lessons and plans we had in the binder, the PowerPoint made it easy to organize the material and effectively present it to the class. This also allowed us to include visual aspects if our unit plan, instead of having to search through a ridiculous amount of paper.

Overall, using this technology was helpful and facilitated our learning goals. It presented material in a precise manner and it helped everyone get their points/ideas across.

Class 14 notes

desyre1986 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 22:11:24 +0000

Today we’re learning about Smart boards and how they are basically a touch sensitive projector and screen. It was pretty interesting to see out guest speaker present and project that he had worked on using white board. I think it is very useful for any last minute information any teacher wants to add into the material- including side notes for the students. I also like how you can also change the students focus (using the highlighter circle).

The think I didn’t like about it is that the teacher does still need to pull up things using the laptop (he had to ask another student to open up certain files). I think I had different expectations- like I thought you would be able to be anywhere in the room and click on files, open links, etc (like what a mouse does for a computer). Although, this is definitely of a better version of a whiteboard. It allows the teacher to be more organized and efficient because the teacher doesn’t have to write everything down on the board, rather than just project it. And in comparison to a projector- the teacher is also more organized because he/she doesn’t have to carry around a bunch of transparencies switch back and forth. What really caught my attention though was the introductory video we watched because he made it seem very simple and easy. That definitely seemed really easy to use and was did exactly what a regular mouse does.

When we actually saw the tools of the smart board, I really thought it was cool. I think smart boards would definitely be useful in the classroom- although I’m not sure if it is worth the price because it does ultimately complete the same tasks as a laptop with a projector, etc.

Week 13 Journal

desyre1986 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:55:56 +0000

Today, I just taught a lesson at the school I was observing. I had to create a lesson plan on introduction to Animals for a Biology class. Through observing the techniques that my own teacher uses, I decided to create a lesson using powerpoint, and giving the students a handout so that they can follow along. I normally am not one to enjoy powerpoint presentations, but I thought it was the best way for me to teach my first lesson. Also, This school does not have access to any recent technology. In my powerpoint, I included a lot of useful images and questions so that students can better understand the material that I was teaching.

I thought this was of teaching was effective and efficient because it kept the whole class on track. Since I was able to create slides with images, it made it easier for visual learners as well as auditory learners. The students were also engaged in the material because of the questions I had asked during the presentation because most of them related to their prior knowledge of the material. Overall, I think this material was easy to teach because of the technology I had used. PowerPoint does keep the teacher on track and is used as reference points when teaching the lesson.

Class 13 Notes

desyre1986 — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 22:52:33 +0000

Today we evaluated a few of our peers’ innovation video using a Wufoo form that Chris created. I definitely think this way of evaluation increased efficiency in the class because it made it very simple but effective at the same time. I think I would definitely use something like that when I need students of my own to evaluate each others’ work, especially since you can keep it anonymous.

The next activity we did was from a student in the class. He introduced us to Poll Everywhere, where anyone can easily sign up and create polls for students to text their response to. It is free and easy to produce and I like how it immediately shows everyone’s responses. I think I would definitely use this in the classroom whenever I am trying to take a vote or poll, although the only limitation is that all students would need a cell phone or internet access- which may take even more time when trying to access computers, or again school regulations since cell phones are normally prohibited.

Overall, I think the technology is really cool, although I don’t think it would usable in elementary-high school classrooms.

Our next activity had to do with good lessons for cheap. We started with an example from Chris’s physics lesson using a cheaper protractor and materials to complete the lesson. I think it would definitely be useful- even though it is not an actual instrument. I think teachers can definitely try to think of ways to use cheaper methods in the classroom that would be just as effective.

Class 13 Activity 1C

desyre1986 — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 21:48:42 +0000

http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/MTM3OTM5MzIyMw: Multiple Choice Poll

http://www.polleverywhere.com/free_text_polls/LTMxNjg4NjQ4NQ: Free Text Poll

http://www.polleverywhere.com/pledge_polls/LTY3MDYxMzEwNw: Goal Poll

Week 12 Journal

desyre1986 — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:05:23 +0000

I was unable to observe a classroom this week, but the technology that I have experienced in my classroom is in my other education course. My teacher has been giving us the majority of the class period to work on our final project, and in my case, we have spend a lot of time searching the web. He tells us that we will have to do alot of research, and I think it is great that he gives us class time to do so. I think that giving us time in class makes us use the time wisely and effectively, because it ‘forces’ us to really do the research and the work that is expected.

During this class, he also presented a speech he was going to be giving relatively soon through PowerPoint. I did not think this was as efficient because he was basically reading off the slides, which does not involve the audience as much. When using powerpoint, I think the slides need to have a minimum amount of writing, which would be used as prompts, so that the speaker doesn’t lose his/her thoughts and ideas. I realized that a lof of the time when this professor uses powerpoint, he puts too much information on the slides, so I normally don’t pay attention too much- mainly because it gets to boring quickly.

Teachers need to be careful when using powerpoint, so that they don’t lose the interest of their students. I pay attention the most when there is little on the slide and I have to really pay attention to understand the message that the teacher is trying to make.

Class 12 Notes

desyre1986 — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:05:06 +0000

For Elizabeth’s technology of creating websites through google, I really liked how much the website can contain for the students.

1. It was fairly easy creating the site and adding all applications for students to browse through the contents of the website. I think it is very useful because it gives the students access to class material whenever they have internet access.

2. The only limitation that I can think about for this application is that students need internet access, if they don’t, they cannot access the information on the page. I also wish that it allowed for more interaction- such as discussion and/or comments, or even a drop box so that students can submit their assignments.

Google Doc

1. This was pretty interesting too, especially to see how you can really specify who you want to share the information with. I think it is very useful because it in a way creates a community between yourself and the others that you are sharing information with, so everyone can share each others lessons, material, etc.

2. I don’t think there are many limitations with this application. It has basically the same qualities as a regular document, but it makes sharing documents between people even easier.

Google Book Search

1. I think this would be very useful especially because it is difficult find full books/articles that students have full access to. Students don’t have to go to the library, or order books in order to keep on track with present/past information. Students can search for certain magazines, articles, and books and can read everything within the book.

2. There aren’t as many limitations with this application either, other than the fact that you need internet access, but with this application, it is easier than just trying to search a book/magazine on the web.

Google Earth

1. Google earth is very useful for students to get an idea of the terrain and the land all over the world. It is very need especially since it is shown by satellite, so it is fairly precise and visual. This application is also useful for when students are trying to learn about the earth, and they can get a very good idea when using this application.

2. The limitations for this application again is that you need internet access to be able to use the application.

Activity 3

desyre1986 — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 23:04:10 +0000

Activity 3

Geological Atlas of the US allows you to look at mapping overlays with actual maps and the land. The map overlays can be viewed as topographical to economical.

Daily MODIS Satellite images allows people to predict whether, since the images are taken close to real life. Even though they are taken within the previous day, people can use this image to try to predict how the whether will be using the patterns.

Defense of Britain allows user to view Britains wartime landscape. It also shows place marks that contain the function of that particular site.

World Population Density allows people to see where humans are living in the world (where they are making their mark). It uses overlays to show the worlds population distribution

lesson plan is on webpage.

Activity 2

desyre1986 — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:37:43 +0000

When we used googlesketch and powerpoint, I honestly liked using powerpoint better- only because it was easier to use (in my opinion). Google Sketch was fun and useful, once I got the hang of it. It definitely allows you to draw more shapes- especially because of 3-D modeling, but it can get a little confusing. PowerPoint was pretty simple and straight forward because it reminded me somewhat of paint, and paint is very simple.

Google sketch is very useful though when you need to create 3-D diagrams, which Powerpoint cannot do, so powerpoint definitely has its limitations even though it is easier to use. Google sketch though, once I got the hang of it (I’m not sure how successful I’d be right now) was very useful and kind of fun to actually use. With Powerpoint, it is useful when you are trying to create identical images because you can easily copy, mirror, group, etc.

Week 11 Journal

desyre1986 — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 18:54:02 +0000

This week in my observations, there was various sorts of technology, but it was not very different from previous observations. Today, my teacher used a powerpoint presentation in her first class in order to teach part of the material. In her 3rd and 4th period, my teacher used an overhead projector in order to teach the material before showing them a video. Normally whenever my teacher shows video clips, she would use youtube or other internet sources, but instead she used the usual VCR to show the clip.

Although the technology that I observed today is not necessarily up to date, it was still efficient in the classroom because it definitely got things done that she had intended to accomplish. Also, considering the budget of this high school, I think my teacher definitely puts whatever technology available to good use within her classroom. My teacher knows how to use whatever technology available to her (because not all classrooms have an overhead projector or the cable wires for her to be able to connect her computer to the overhead) in a good and positive manner. I know that through my own experience, the use of powerpoint or overhead projectors can be very boring and uneffective, she has an energy about her that keeps the classroom interesting, which I think is a very important characteristics for teachers to have.