WEEK 9

The only area that had articles for my grade level was technology which was great since that is what my master's is on. I am hoping the other areas will get articles for my grade level, because this site appears to be pretty good. The article on The 10 Best Science Museums on the Web is going to be very useful, because I am forever trying to find science information for my students (next year we will finally have 2nd grade science books). The Exploratorium, its a fun site I could spend hours on it. I visited Ice Stories and watched a webcast from real scientist from the artic. I believe my students would get a total kick out of this live webcast. I also found the hands-on activities. The salt volcano lesson had steps that were easy to follow and comprehend. This museum has so much more from science activities, webcast to experiments. I then visited Ology museum. The live videos are child friendly and inviting. Before the video begans, the student is challenged to put the video in the correct order and then watch it. It also has an exciting vitual tour on the solar system and hands-on project on making a coral reef.

WEEK 8

When a book? When the Net?

Wow!!! Good question! Book vs Net!
I know myself, I personally use the computer a lot for research mainly because I don't have to leave the house and its a lot faster than reading a really long text book. I agree with the article thou. When it comes to old history, you can't find much to write a paper on and honestly how do you know which site is a reliable site when you do find something on the web. For current news, Yes!, the web is the place to get it, because its fresh. There are people who are still trying to make money at publishing books and their view on the historic event. Yes!! We do have to wait for the author to write it, then publish it, and then go through production. Once in the book store, I myself wait til it goes on sale or the library get a copy. Researching with books is not to bad for me, because that's how I did my papers when I was in school. The Web wasn't around. Today's children need to be taught how to use book for research, for them its always the computer. Its there, easy to use and its fast. Students needs to realize that books offer so much more than what on the web. Even as teachers in this digital world reach to much for the web before turning to a book for help. We as teachers need to be reminded the books also offer so much more.

Using Technology to Enhance Literacy Instruction

My district really needs to step in this ditigal world that our students are growing up in. As teachers, we are getting some of the training, but we need so much more. As a Technology master learner, I feel it will be my job to help educate my fellow peers on Web 2.0, importance of safe surfing the web, how to use movie maker, how helpful are podcasts etc. My district does not understand the importance of more computers in the classroom. Yes!!! We have a lab, but when it come to lower grades its easier to put a couple on at a time. That way they get a more one on one understand on how to correctly use the programs, save and retrieve their own files. At the present time, in my 2nd grade class room I use my computers for reading fluency by putting my kids on Starfall during center time. I am also teaching them in the lab on how to create an invitation on Publisher to our grade level play. So in my 2nd grade class room, I use the computers for writing and reading fluency.

Week 7 readings

Technology education is an important issue to today's children. As a teacher, it's our responsibility to prepare our children for the real world which is the digital world; especially in the subjects of math and science. Technology is now changing from year to year instead of generating to generation. As technology changes, teachers need to be aware of what is out there that could be useful in that classroom. Then teachers need to be retaught on how to correctly use technology to teach today's children. Teachers that are actively using technology in the classroom may not be teaching technology in the correct way that is effective to today's children. I feel that it may be my job as a student in educational technology to educate my fellow teaching peers how to correctly use technology in the classroom and to realize what is really out their that can help them in all subjects especially in math and science. As a teacher its really hard to keep up with it. If I was not in this technology class at ASU West, I would have never known what Web 2.0 was even about. To be honest with you, as a teacher it is hard to keep up with this digital world without the correct technology materials. Technology is becoming more and more so important, but my district has not realized this. We still have classrooms that only have one or two computers. We have one lab that we need to share with a over populated school. The Special Ed classrooms are the only rooms that have smart boards. The library has a smart board, but without the right training many teachers have no clue on how to use it and the advantages that it has to provide for teachers. The school has about five projectors that we have to share, but our school really needs to provide projectors in every classroom to help the ELL students process words and its meanings. With projectors in every room, teachers could pull up poems instead of taking the class to the library and "hoping" to find the right poem. There are so much a teacher can do with the proper eduction on computers and what's out their on the web to help them in the classroom. Everytime I get on and simply google Web 2.0, I am amazed at what I find that I can use in the classroom simply with the use of a projector. I am waiting for the day that paper and pencil will be not a usual working method, instead we will be asking students to pull out their laptops to take notes on Inspiration or Kidspiration. W