Can technology be a bad thing?

Today there is still a computer class because we are in the process of shifting over to technology. Right now we are learning about the tools so that we can better learn how to use them for learning. Most of the articles talked about how we need to stop saying the word technology and I agree. People are hung up on that word and think that if something is typed, you have automatically used technology. Technically they are correct, but that technology didn't enrich their learning. Teachers are at a little bit of a disadvantage because we didn't grow up with Youtube and Facebook. I didn't get a computer in my house until I was in high school. I was trained how the articles said not to train teachers - in a lab with no students. I have to say I am getting better at simply finding something meaningful to the curriculum, explaining to my class what the purpose of the assignment is, and letting them loose. We can learn together. Since I teach 2nd grade, I think we do need the computer class to teach typing, placement of the hands, how to navigate a page, etc. because most of my students don't know how to do that. Unless they have been on a website before and it's mostly clicking, they can't figure it out on their own. However, I do have another piece of technology that the students and I both use. It is the Interwrite. I am able to write on it, pass it to them, and have them write on it as well for the whole class to see. We make proofreading marks, circle the verb, manipulate base 10 blocks, and all kinds of things. I will say I did have to force myself to use it, but now I use it everyday! I think anything new and different will take time and you have to want to make the effort. Overall I think people are confused about what integrating technology really means and that is a huge reason it is not integrated into the classroom.

effective TIS

Effective instruction is important for TIS instructors because they will be the ones who will support teachers in the classroom. They need to know how to be an effective teacher so that they can teach other teachers how to be effective. Most teachers know there needs to be certain things in place in order to be effective in your classroom. It will be the TIS's job to refresh those strategies and give teachers new strategies to fit their specific classroom. Some of the things a TIS will look for will be classroom environment, quality lessons for quality instruction, classroom management, and all of the components needed to have an effective outcome. How can a TIS do this if they don't know what an effective classroom looks like or ever experience being in the classroom.

The role of the TIS is to observe and then bring in those strategies for the teacher. The TIS and the teacher should be able to collaborate, brainstorm, and discuss the new resources that the TIS brings to the table. That is also part of the role of the TIS: to find new resources and ways to teach strategies so that different teaching styles can accommodate those strategies and teachers can use them in their classrooms.

concept map

 Both articles give components to being an effective teacher. The first article talks about four main components that make up QAIT. These four items are having quality lessons and presentations of those lessons, lessons being at the appropriate level  so that students are engaged, not overwhelmed or bored, incentive to learn, whether it be intrinsic or extrinsic, and having the time to correctly implement all of these things. The time part is the biggest challenge for me. For example, we only have 45 minutes a day allotted for a math program that calls for 90 minutes a day. I fit in parts of it where I can, but I do feel we move too quickly in math. One way I help diffuse this problem is that we are allowed to have an intervention day on Fridays. I use this day to work with students in small groups on those skills that they were struggling with during the week. While I work with them, other students are working on enrichment activities. I really like using this time on Fridays and I feel that students are not left behind because I can give them more individualized attention.

The second article talked about principles of an effective teacher that were very similar. However, this article focused a little more on the atmosphere in the classroom and the emotional well-being of the students. The first article mentioned it because it is needed to get students to learn, but I think the second article really centered on that concept. There are students in my classroom right now with some pretty big stuff going on at home and I am working hard to show them I care while keeping my authority and not let them get away with things. It is a very careful balance. Some days is seems to be working really well! Others, well, can't get it right all the time but I try to focus on the positive and then something else good usually happens.

week 9

Instant messaging reminds me of high school. It does come in handy to chat with someone really quick when you are on your computer or if they are at theirs. For example, I have a friend who was at work but needed to talk to me about an upcoming trip. We used Google Talk and she was able to email me things and chat with me while I was looking at them. She was also able to look at her work while waiting for my responses. (PS she was working after hours, just to clarify!) I think instant messaging can be convenient at times, but I would still rather talk on the phone or Facebook. I think that is safer, also. However, if you never go to meet anyone in person, I guess chatting is pretty safe, too. Just don't give out personal information.

week 8

Google Docs was my mission this week. I worked on a page at the same time with other people and entered in data from our students. It was pretty cool to see the other cursors from the other peoples' computers! I also like how we can change anything we need to at our own convenience and then share it with anyone we need to. We simply type in their email address and add them to it! Very cool! We actually use Google Docs and Google Calendar as a building and it works out really well!

Week 7

My Twitter username is maurer_melissa. (Creative, I know!)

Honestly, I am not a huge fan of microblogging. Sadly, I don't have a lot going on in my life that I want to Tweet about every 5 minutes. If there is something I would like to share, I use the phone or Facebook. Also, if I have a question I can post it in one of the teacher blogs or look it up online and usually get an answer.

I did find Twitter easy to set up and use. If I can do it easily, anybody can!

I started following 23 Things, Rachel Ray, and Librarians. So far, I could look up anything posted in their Tweets if I needed to know it.

I do see how microblogging can keep you in the know and updated on current events. That is something I definitely need to work on! It can also help with networking.

PowerPoint presentations

I had no idea that it was okay to be funny and not completely rigid in a presentation that you give in front of adults, possibly even your boss, but it would definitely make it more fun! I did learn that PowerPoints should be short and that you shouldn't type everything you are going to say on the slide. I did have a class over the summer where we had to answer questions on the slide so I wasn't sure how to do that without writing a bunch on the slide, but it worked out. I knew that you are supposed to keep the colors and fonts to a limit so it's not too crazy and disjointed. I didn't know about the pictures that you could add. I'm really excited about that!