Reflection

Throughout the last eight weeks, I have learned a great deal about integrating technology into the classroom. I have been simultaneously taking CEP 810 and 811. These two courses have helped me gain a better understanding of how to effectively integrate technology into my classroom.

When integrating technology in the classroom it is important to have effective teaching strategies to accompany online learning. One teaching strategy I believe would be most effective is constructivism. This gives students the opportunity to discover on their own. This strategy encourages students to participate in an active dialogue. The teacher is a facilitator and not the source of the information.

Web based technologies can be very important in the learning process. Throughout the semester I have been able to share and view different tips and tricks. I will definitely be using some of those sites for my class. One site that I was interested in using is Rubistar. This site assists the teacher is creating a customized rubric for any assignment.

As I go forward through the masters program my will keep evolving. I have set some new goals for my self and the future. I would like to learn more about new technologies and get even better at using the technologies that know. Sometime in the future, when technology is more readily available to my classroom, I would like to make my classroom completely wireless. I would like to use technology everyday in my classroom. Technology is a great way to engage students in their learning. When my students enjoy what I am teaching then I enjoy my job.

Online Learning

There are many on line learning technologies that I could use in my classroom. Webquests, and RSS Feeds are the two that I would use most often in my classroom. When using a webquest in my classroom students are able to gain more in depth content knowledge. In Social Studies there are many websites which provide great additional detail for lessons. When using a webqust students are more involved in gathering the information needed to produce an end product. Students feel more accomplished and involved when using a webquest.

An RSS Feed in a social studies classroom is very useful. Students are able to keep up with blogs, current events, and articles. These feeds would be greatly beneficial to my students. In a social studies classroom we are constantly keeping up with current affairs. By using an RSS feed keeping up with these reports is a whole lot easier.

When using web based instruction like a an RSS feed, constructivism becomes the instructional design. Students are able to discover information on their own, and are involved in active dialogues. Another instructional design that is used when using webquests is project based learning. Students perform research, develop solutions, and "defend" their solutions, as well as consider other solutions.

As with anything else pedagogical strategies are used when implementing both technologies. You can use Scaffolding when setting up a webquest. You can set up supports for the learner and then take those supports away once learning becomes more independent. Another strategy is simulation and problem solving. When using an RSS feed students interact with content they are to learn. They are to gather the information on their own or as a class.

There are however some technologies in which I would not use regularly in my classroom. Excel (spreadsheets) is not a technology that I see using on a regular basis. Spreadsheets more often than not are used for mathematical reasons. There are very few situations in a social studies classroom in which I would use Excel. Some situations in which I would use Excel are for population comparison or to teach economical situations like a family budget.

Technology will continue to grow and it is my job as an educator to introduce as much technology into my classroom as possible. Once students leave my classroom and continue on to higher education or enter the real world technology is something they will have to be versed.

Zoho Show

Zoho Show is a free web 2.0 technology in which an educator or student can create a slide show. This application is very similar to Microsoft Power Point. As you enter the sight you are given multiple options for the theme of your show. They have jazzy, funky, fantasy, perspective, abstract, and plain backgrounds. After your theme has been selected you can then create your slide show. As you can see there are many tools you can utilize when working with this site. There are shapes you can insert as well as over a hundred clip art images.

With zoho show you can also share and collaborate. You can share your presentation with groups or publish your show to the web. You can also use zoho chat to collaborate on a project with a group. You can hold live chats with the participants who are viewing your presentation. You are able to share your computer's desktop and present live demos.

There were a few things I was unable to do with this application. For example there are no animations. You cannot have a title animate onto the screen. I did see a presentation however that described what updates are coming soon to zoho show. One of the new features is going to be animation support. You will also be able to export your presentation to Microsoft Power Point.

In order to take advantage of this application educators will have to make sure their students are familiar with the use of power point applications. Once you are experienced in a power point application, zoho show should not be hard to use. This application would be a great resource in a social studies classroom. Students could collaborate and share there work. You could have groups work on one project together in this application. Zoho show would also be useful for a teacher to use during a daily lesson. Using an application like zoho show would enhance any lesson if properly utilized. Educators would also be able to collaborate with colleagues from around the country.

In order to use this in the classroom teachers have to be very organized. The teacher has to be a facilitator and make sure this application is being used appropriately. Any time you work with new technologies you have to be aware of how your students are using the applications. You should always closely monitor the work of the students in your classroom. Overall zoho show is a great application that would be a great asset in any classroom.

Instrctuional Strategies

If implemented correctly blogs could be a very useful resource in the classroom. The constructivism model is the instructional strategy that would fit well with using blogs in the classroom. According to the constructivism model, as a teacher, you are encouraging students to discover knowledge on their own, and engaging students in an active dialogue. Within the constructivism model the Project Based Learning approach fits the best when using a blog. The students begin with a problem and then research to develop solutions to the problem. Students could research blogs to discover a solution and then they could use their own blog to defend their own solutions.

Blogging has many benefits to students. It allows students the opportunity to be experts on a subject matter. It also helps increase the students' interest in learning. Students are able to have their ideas heard which can provide much confidence.

The Didactic approach to teaching would not be a good strategy when using blogs. This is a more direct approach to teaching. The teacher is providing all the information through direct lessons. There usually is no time to for students to discover information on their own.

In a social studies classroom there are lots of opportunities to use blogs. You could have student research and answer a weekly question. For example, why are the "Bill of Rights" so important? Why are they needed? and Without them what would happen? There are many more possibilities. But, I would love to use it as a weekly assignment, if my classes were able to have access to computers at school or at home.

Web 2.0 technologies are usually very adaptive in a social studies classroom. I am having a difficult time thinking of a Web 2.0 technology that would not usually be used in a social studies classroom. Blogging, Wiki, and RSS feeders would all great tools to use. There is so much information on the web that is just waiting to be uncovered.

Wikipedia

The Air Zoo is an Aviation Museum in Kalamazoo Michigan. My son and I visit this museum regularly. Currently admission is free until the end of the year. If you get a chance I highly recommend visiting. This is the link to the Air Zoo. On their wiki site there was no mention on admission so here is what I added.

I also just started my very own Wiki page
(Mrs Arend). I currently am not in a teaching position so there is very little on there. I will add more pages as a mock site so that when I am teaching I will be able to make use of the site. Feel free to view and comment as you like.

Computer Based Instruction

Computer based instruction is a useful tool to enhance a lesson in the classroom. There are many different kinds of computer-based instruction. There are many different kinds of computer-based instruction. There are web quests, web pages, and StAIR projects. However, if you want to implement these tools outside the classroom there can be problems to overcome. In the school district in which I worked and live many of the families do not have access to a computer outside of school. Another problem is the computer literacy of your students or "digital immigrants" (Mark Prensky).
In order to get past some of these obstacles one has to make sure the computer based instruction is available or made available to all students. One also has to make sure that the instructional activities are appropriate to the learner. I am a secondary education teacher in History and Social Studies; here are a few webquests which I might use in my classroom.

Look Who's Footing the Bill
This webquest would be used in a Civics or Government classroom. The layout of the webquest is very appealing. There are links to each task in the webquest so as not to overwhelm a student with to much text. Now a student can take each step slowly.

Nicaragua
This webquest is very well written. The educational goals are clearly stated. Every step of the webquest is detailed and easy to comprehend. The draw back to this particular webquest is the amount of time it takes to complete. In school it may be difficult to get your classes into a computer lab to finish this webquest. Another draw back is a few of the link don't work, which makes me think that this webquest was not kept up to date.

There are lots of great computer based instructional activities out there just waiting to be used.

Web Pages vs. Blogs

Web pages and blogs both are forums where an individual or group can express themselves in the virtual world. There are however differences between the two. A web page can display the who, what, where, why and when. It is a first impression of a person, company, or school. It is also an avenue to contact a person via email. A blog is a setting where people can have on going conversations on any given subject at any given time. You can go into more depth and expand on more thoroughly in a blog. There is less of a formality when it comes to blogging. Both blogs and web pages provide great insight into people and places. When it comes to blogging or creating a web page it is a place where you can represent yourself to the fullest.