Blog Reflection # 5

Reflecting on this semester, consider what you have learned about integrating technology into the classroom. Your blog should cite specific examples to support your learning. In your discussion you might consider but are not limited to the following ideas: a) using Word, Excel, PPT, Concept Mapping, DataBases, and/or Video as instructional tools, b) advantages and disadvantages of integrating technology, c) a particular piece of technology and how it is perfect for a particular topic, student, or stiatuion, d) which integration activity you are most proud of creating, e) which integration activity you would do differently next time around, f) how integrating technology facilitiates a learner-cnetered (constructivist) classroom, g) any other ideas realted to integrating technology into the classroom.
Over all this class offered a fun new way to learn new idea's and to incorporate technology into our way of teaching. As becoming a teacher i have recieved important information to how different students learn and as using technology i have gathered many new techniques. The case studies was a good project to work on because it showed how other teachers taught their class and it showed how her students thought of the material. Different students learn many ways and one of the cool things were the smart board and how they can actually participate on the board. A good example for a project on the smart board was the concept mapping for kidspiration. This program can let students interact and play games on the board. Another activity was power points. Students were able to click on the links and it would take them to another slide or to a web site to gather more information on the topic. The advantages of technology is it offers new ways of learning because some students become bored and it offers a fresh way of thinking. Some students learn better with computers. Working with computers gives students a chance to experiment with how to work with it and look through the programs. some students do not have a computer and home and some will miss out on the opportunity to know how to operate it. Some disadvantages will be if students get frustrated on how work on it. The students might mess around on it. The computer also might freeze up or the internet might be down while teaching a lecture. Throughout this class my favorite assignment was making the video and editing it the program we used made it easy to understand what we needed to do. The final cut should be amazing. Having technology in the classroom makes the class a better learning enviroment because there is so much to learn about technology.