Reflections of Course Embedded Internship Hours

This was the first college class where I have had to do a group assignment. It was fun see each person’s options and ideas. Our first task was to create a wiki and a Google doc. I only started using Google documents, wikis, and blogs when I started at Lamar. I have found it to be a fun way to do work. I attached our Google doc to our wiki and it was not a hard task. It only took me a few minutes. I have learned that wikis are good for collaborative writing and group assignments (Solomon, G & Schrum, L, 2007). I believe this is true because it was easy for us to type in our information and everyone immediately had access to it. I also found email to be a good form of communication. Posted our information on our wiki and then sent the link to our instructor. We then learned to use lessonbuilder.cast.org to create an e-book. Through this website I learned about UDL and how it recognizes that every student learns in a different way (cast.org, 2009). I had previously learned about different ways of learning in my teacher certification. According to some of the reading one way to reach students is to individualize your lessons (Rose, D. & Meyer, A, 2002). However, I never knew that there was an internet site where you could make your own e-book. I found this to be very interesting. Since I am not a working teacher I also learned from making our lesson plans how to use the state standards. I learned where to find these standards and also went through them to determine which ones would work well with my assignment.
References
Cast.org (2009). Cast UDL book builder. Center for Applied Special Technology. Retrieved March 31, 2012 from http://www.cast.org/udl/.
Rose, D & Meyer, A. (2002). Teaching every student in the digital age. Universal design for learning. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and curriculum Development. Retrieved March 31, 2012 from http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/ideas/tes/chapter6.cfm

EDLD 5364 Week 5

When watching this week’s videos I came across some information I did not think about. It was said that a video game is basically just an assessment or test (Gee, J. nd). I found this to be very interesting. I had never looked at it this way. Gee said that it allows people to use problem solving skills and not just know facts (Goo, J. nd). Once he said it I started thinking about it and it really does make sense. He also spoke about how some students use games to learn English (Gee, J. nd). That is a unique way to learn English. I had never thought about someone using it that way.
In another video it showed how students could learn using video games. They state that they can make a game and the students will learn without ever even knowing they are learning (Youtube.com, nd). I found this to be a very interesting idea. I think it could really work. The truth is young children learn from video games. They learn about colors, shapes, etc. I think it makes sense that if older children like to play video games that they would learn from them. They learn how to play games while playing them so why wouldn’t they learn things that we have planned for them. They would have to learn it in order to win the game.

References
Edutopia.org (nd). Big Thinkers: James Paul Gee on grading with games. Retrieved March 31, 2012 from http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-james-gee-video
Youtube.com (nd). Vision for 21st Century Learning. Retrieved March 31, 2012 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mirxkzkxuf4

EDLD 5364 Week 4

This week I watched several videos and read several readings. I personally liked the video on Project-Based Learning. This is not the first time I have watched this video. I have watched it before during my teacher certification courses. I found this video to be very interesting. I like the idea of students learning through projects. I have seen a video where young children made a website of their town. It allows students from other towns to be able to see all of the things in their town without having to come there. I think it is a good way to get students involved. If students are involved in something it will help them become more interested. If they are involved and interested it will help them to learn more and to remember what they have learned.
When watching Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts I liked when it said that you do not have to know everything before you teach it (Edutopia.org, nd). I think that is very true. We can all learn something new. I personally think that students like it when the teacher is learning with them. The other day a student made a mistake on a math problem being done on the boared. It took me a minute to figure out what I was missing to try and help him fix it. The kids seemed to like knowing that their teacher could make a mistake too.

References
Edutopia.org. (nd). Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts. Retrieved March 24, 2012 from http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-teachers-vicki-davis-video

My Bookbuilder Book

http://bookbuilder.cast.org/view.php?op=view&book=58372&page=1

Reflections of my math lesson plan

Doing this lesson plan was difficult for me. I personally do not know if it is 100% right. I have never really had to work with TEKS so I have trouble determining exactly which ones I should pick. I am just now starting to work on them with the teacher I am doing student teaching with. She using CScope and it tells you what TEKS each lesson covers. I have never really had to look them up.
I liked the idea of having the children go to the store and write down what their parents buy. It allows them to relate math to the real world. So does the activity of making a fair. I think that the children will learn more if they can see how they will use it in real life.

Math using Charlotte’s Web
Overview: Using the book Charlotte’s Web I will teach a Math Lesson
Author: Brandi Dawn Hoffpauir
Grade Levels: 3-4
Duration: 2 Days
Unit Description: During this unit the students will use the book Charlotte’s Web as a way to learn Math, Science, Social Studies, Reading, and Art.
Lesson Description Day 1
For homework have the children go shopping with their parents. They should keep track of what is bought and what was spent on each item. For day one in class they can determine what they could have bought with $50.
Lesson Description Day 2
County Fair: Set up a small county fair in the classroom. Give each student $10 to spend at the fair. The following prices will be used for the lesson:
Entrance Fee $2.00
Tickets for rides .75
Cotton Candy $1.50
Ice Cream $1.00
Candy Bar $1.00
Soda Drinks $2.00
Bottled Water $1.50
Ice Cream Sundae $1.50
Souvenirs $2.50-$10.00
Have each child add up what they would spend and calculate how much would be left over or how much would be needed to spend 2 hours at the fair.
State Standards
Third Grade Math TEKS
3.14 Underlying processes and mathematical tools. The student applies Grade 3 mathematics to solve problems connected to everyday experiences and activities in and outside of school.
The student is expected to:
(A) identify the mathematics in everyday situations;
(B) solve problems that incorporate understanding the problem, making a plan, carrying out the plan, and evaluating the solution for reasonableness;
(C) select or develop an appropriate problem-solving plan or strategy, including drawing a picture, looking for a pattern, systematic guessing and checking, acting it out, making a table, working a simpler problem, or working backwards to solve a problem; and
(D) use tools such as real objects, manipulatives, and technology to solve problems.

EDLD 5364 Week 3

This week I learned a lot about UDL. I found this to be a very interesting topic. When teaching students we have to make sure to use multiple techniques. The students will not all learn in the same way and in the same time frame. For example if I am teaching a lesson I can not only have a student read about the subject, I can also have them do something hands on. I could also read to them and this will help those students who have problems reading. I think that it is very important to try and find different ways of teaching these students. That will allow more students to learn.

I also learned that Blogs and Wikis can be very helpful. Blogs are important because peers can go in and make comments on what is being written (Solomon, 2007). I also learned that Wikis can be helpful too. They are well suited for group projects. A Wiki keep track of changes and allows the teacher to monitor what the group is doing (Solomon, 2007). Before I started this program I never knew that a blog or a Wiki could be helpful. I am now very interested in the different ways of using them.

References
Solomon, G. &. (2007). web 2.0 new tools, new schools. Washington D.C.: International Society for Technology in Education.

EDLD 5364 Week 2

This week I have watched videos about the different ways students learn. I believe it is correct that every student learns differently and that we need to have alternative methods of teaching them (LessonBuilder.Cast.Org, nd). I have been working with a lot of special needs children in the classroom where I am student teaching. I have to go out of my way to find different ways of helping them learn. I find that it really isn’t just special needs children who learn differently. Everyone has a different learning style. I believe that includes adults too. Some learn better from reading while others may learn from hands on projects. I have seen that UDL is a way of using technology to help all students including special needs students regardless of background (LessonBuilder.Cast.Org, Universal Design and Universal Design for Learning, nd). I have read that technology has yet to prove itself in a classroom setting. Even though it hasn’t proven itself and some think it is a waste of money it has become a mainstay in the classroom (Page, 2002). According to one study there was a significant difference in self-esteem in classrooms which have technology in them (Page, 2002). To me that alone is a good reason to have technology in the classroom. I know that many people do not think that students should be using technology. Many people think that children use way too much technology already. The thing is I believe that you can use technology in a good way. That does not mean a child should be playing games all day. However, they should learn how to use computer programs since they will more than likely be using them as adults. I do not think that there will ever be a time that everyone agrees on rather we should use technology in the classroom or not. However, I believe that in the end the technology will be in the classroom.
References
LessonBuilder.Cast.Org. (nd). Diversity of Learners. Retrieved March 10, 2012 from http://lessonbuilder.cast.org/window.php?src=videos
LessonBuilder.Cast.Org. (nd). Universal Design and Universal Design for Learning. Retrieved March 10, 2012 from: http://lessonbuilder.cast.org/window.php?src=videos
Page, M. (2002). Technology-Enriched Classrooms: Effects on Students of Low Socioeconomic Status. Journal of Research on Technology in Education , 34(4), 389-409. Retrieved March 10, 2012 from https://lamar.epiclms.net/Learn/Player.aspx?enrollmentid=2480282

EDLD 5364 Week 1

Constructivists consider learning to be an individual and personal learning experience. This theory believes that learners bring their prior knowledge into what they are learning and that influences what they get out of the learning. I personally think this is true. I think that most people really do bring prior knowledge into what they are learning. Constructivists also believe that knowledge in constructed in different ways and by using different tools. They feel that the more ways people are offered to learn the more they will learn. I again agree with this. As a student teacher I have watched my students during assignments. Some seem to learn better one way while another one learns better another way. I think that teachers have to offer a variety of ways for the students to learn. This should include hands on assignments. Offering different methods of learning will allow the greatest number of students to learn. They also feel that social interaction is important. They feel that talking about something allows people to learn more. I was watching the videos and learned that a constructivist is never objective. He was saying that everyone is trying to make it fit into what they thought. I think that it is probably true to some extent. I don't think people realize they are doing it, but in reality they are. He said that if you asked everyone what they heard they would all tell you something different. I found that to be very interesting. I had never really thought about it.
During a video I watch with Mr. Warwick in it I learned some very interesting information. Mr. Warwick says that over time we will be able to get an implant to help us with improved communication. I did not know that that was even a possibility. He was talking about a chip that was connected to him that allowed him to be attached to a computer. This is something that I have never heard of. He said that some say that we only sence five percent of what is around us. In the project he was in they were able to stimulate his nervous system and allow him to experience other senses. One of those was sonar. I think it is amazing that he was able to do that. It always amazes me what scientists come up with. I listed to this video with much interest. I have never heard of these types of experiments and was interested in seeing what he had to say.
According to the Department of Education it is predicted that computer use in schools will continue to rise. This does not suprise me. I think that computers are important in our lives and schools will have to continue to teach children how to use them. Using technology can be good for students since many technology items allow for hands on use. This helps students learn from doing hands on projects. I believe that many students benefit from the hands on experience. Using technology can also help students visualize hard to learn lessons. It can help them to see something instead of just hearing about it. This is because using a computer they can see a simulation. For instance when I was in college getting my BA I had to take an environmental science class. It was about the effects of different things on the ozone layer. It wanted us to see how it changed over a period of about 150 years. Instead of just trying to look up facts there was a computer simulation. It helped me to see and visualize what I was trying to learn. I think that I learned a lot more from that than from just reading a book.
Even though there are good uses for electronics in the schools there are still some who do not want them to be used. These people feel like they are a waste of money. I think that even though the electronics are expensive they do have a place in the schools. I do not believe that we should go completely to computers and quit using books and whiteboards, but I do think that they are important and that our children need to know how to use them.