Describe issues related to training special education teachers to use technology.
I think that one of the major issues is funding. Most of the equipment, programs, software and resources that are related to special education will be very costly. Many districts have a hard time finding the proper funding to afford expensive equipment and training. Another issue related to training special education teachers is the lack of training. Many teachers have to ‘fly by the seat of their pants’ and learn as they go into teaching because they are unable to attend training sessions because the school does not have the funding for it. Maybe the best way to deal with this issue would be to set up a forum that new and experienced teachers can log into in order to get help from teachers that are more knowledgeable.
Give examples of no-tech, low-tech, and high-tech solutions for special students:
No-tech: one handed typing, hand over hand
Low-tech: highlighters, color overlays, number lines and multiplication charts for math.
High tech- calculators, tape recorders, speech recognition software, computer software, auditory impaired listening devices.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Discussion 6
What are the "history wars," and what are their implications for technology use in history?
The use of technology in the classroom is disputed because it makes it is seen as a threat to the print material that is being taught. Many instructors feel that we should teach the same thing, year after year and never explore new concepts that have surfaced since. If we teach history, we should be able to teach it as it evolves. There are many new concepts that have been discovered through technology that can make history more relevant to our students.
With students' ready access to information on the Internet, what might be the concerns of social studies teachers?
I think that the main thing we should worry about is correct information. Our students must be aware that we should always look for information on history that is accurate. Sites like Wikipedia should be noted as sites that provide false or misleading information. Also, as I always say….monitor the sites that they visit, we should always be watchful that it will not endanger our students and put them in the path of online predators.
The use of technology in the classroom is disputed because it makes it is seen as a threat to the print material that is being taught. Many instructors feel that we should teach the same thing, year after year and never explore new concepts that have surfaced since. If we teach history, we should be able to teach it as it evolves. There are many new concepts that have been discovered through technology that can make history more relevant to our students.
With students' ready access to information on the Internet, what might be the concerns of social studies teachers?
I think that the main thing we should worry about is correct information. Our students must be aware that we should always look for information on history that is accurate. Sites like Wikipedia should be noted as sites that provide false or misleading information. Also, as I always say….monitor the sites that they visit, we should always be watchful that it will not endanger our students and put them in the path of online predators.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
EDED 4310-850 Wk 5 Discussion
Many educators believe that with the growth of media and information technology, media literacy is just as important as – or even more important than – print literacy (that is, learning to read and write).
What is your position on the relative importance of the two “literacies”?
The importance of literacy is tremendous. First of all, if our students are not able to read and write properly, their success in this world will be hindered. Our student’s future success depends on their ability to obtain a higher degree of learning. In order to survive in this education minded world, he or she must be able to handle the requirements that a higher institution of learning will demand from them. This also takes into consideration their ability to be technology literate. Many of the courses in which students will participate throughout their academic career will also demand that they be able to handle technology successfully to support their academic career.
What information from this chapter helps support your position?
The book mentions, “…traditional definitions of literacy are no longer sufficient and we must shift our conception to new literacies (page 279).
What is your position on the relative importance of the two “literacies”?
The importance of literacy is tremendous. First of all, if our students are not able to read and write properly, their success in this world will be hindered. Our student’s future success depends on their ability to obtain a higher degree of learning. In order to survive in this education minded world, he or she must be able to handle the requirements that a higher institution of learning will demand from them. This also takes into consideration their ability to be technology literate. Many of the courses in which students will participate throughout their academic career will also demand that they be able to handle technology successfully to support their academic career.
What information from this chapter helps support your position?
The book mentions, “…traditional definitions of literacy are no longer sufficient and we must shift our conception to new literacies (page 279).
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
EDED 4310-850 Wk 3 Discussion
THE SCENARIO & QUESTIONS:
TIP Model Phase 4-Preparing the Instructional Environment
Esmerelda is having her students do a social studies project in which they do "virtual interviews" of experts on various periods in U.S. history. She schedules time in the computer lab and has them locate experts by searching Internet sites. She gives them an initial list of sites, but encourages them to branch out from there, looking for additional sites on their own. There is no lab manager and she has to go back to the classroom for periods of time as they work, but she knows they are competent Internet users and can be trusted not to leave the lab without permission. For their contacts with experts, she has them prepare a standard email with the school name; their names, ages, addresses, and personal email addresses, if they have one; and a description of what they would like to know.
1. Assuming she is correct that students will not leave the lab with permission, is Esmeralda's plan for having students using the Internet a good one? Why or why not?
2. Do you see any problems with the email she is having them send?
3. How would you change her plan to improve it?
MY ANSWERS:
1. I do not think that it is a good idea to leave students unattended. You may call me paranoid, but the idea of the sites that students could get into either by accident or on purpose is terrifying. There are many things that could happen in only a few seconds, websites that they encounter might have inappropriate material or they might take a side trip to a chat room and come across a sexual predator. Last but not least, let’s not forget the Internet tends to be “virusville” for the unprotected.
2. I see many problems with the email that she would have the students send. In this day and age where sexual predators are everywhere, it is very dangerous to send so much personal information. Sending address, age, school they attend and sharing a personal email address makes the students very vulnerable to be contacted by dangerous individuals.
3. I would make arrangements to have a college help supervise the class in the event that I have to return to class. I would make previous contact with reputable sources they could interview and set up the interview process in a controlled environment. This would prevent the students from any unnecessary exposure to strangers.
TIP Model Phase 4-Preparing the Instructional Environment
Esmerelda is having her students do a social studies project in which they do "virtual interviews" of experts on various periods in U.S. history. She schedules time in the computer lab and has them locate experts by searching Internet sites. She gives them an initial list of sites, but encourages them to branch out from there, looking for additional sites on their own. There is no lab manager and she has to go back to the classroom for periods of time as they work, but she knows they are competent Internet users and can be trusted not to leave the lab without permission. For their contacts with experts, she has them prepare a standard email with the school name; their names, ages, addresses, and personal email addresses, if they have one; and a description of what they would like to know.
1. Assuming she is correct that students will not leave the lab with permission, is Esmeralda's plan for having students using the Internet a good one? Why or why not?
2. Do you see any problems with the email she is having them send?
3. How would you change her plan to improve it?
MY ANSWERS:
1. I do not think that it is a good idea to leave students unattended. You may call me paranoid, but the idea of the sites that students could get into either by accident or on purpose is terrifying. There are many things that could happen in only a few seconds, websites that they encounter might have inappropriate material or they might take a side trip to a chat room and come across a sexual predator. Last but not least, let’s not forget the Internet tends to be “virusville” for the unprotected.
2. I see many problems with the email that she would have the students send. In this day and age where sexual predators are everywhere, it is very dangerous to send so much personal information. Sending address, age, school they attend and sharing a personal email address makes the students very vulnerable to be contacted by dangerous individuals.
3. I would make arrangements to have a college help supervise the class in the event that I have to return to class. I would make previous contact with reputable sources they could interview and set up the interview process in a controlled environment. This would prevent the students from any unnecessary exposure to strangers.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Blog #3
The reader response is a way to check for reader comprehension. It gives the teacher the ability to identify how well the student understood the text or story he/she read. As teachers we will use this effective tool when we engage our students in their daily reading activities or reading material in any given subject. One of the most popular ways to check for reading comprehension is to have students keep a reader’s response journal. Students can keep a reader’s response journal to write their thoughts, feeling, or connections to the subjects they read about. As teachers, we would be able to read these journals and make sure that their journal entries align with the reading subject matter covered.
Other ways to check for reading comprehension are:
Write a letter to the teacher
Compare and contrast characters, two books or texts, etc.
Create an alternate ending.
Create a book jacket.
Summarize a book
Write a letter to a character.
Make a puzzle depicting a scene or a character.
Create a poem about the text.
Create a crossword puzzle based on the story.
Make a cartoon of your favorite scene or an entire story.
Write a review.
Create a scrapbook.
My favorite book we read was My Great-Aunt Arizona by Gloria Houston. I liked the idea of a teacher making an impact on many generations of students. I would read this to my students and explain to them that we all have an impact in someone’s life. I would also point out to my students that books permit us a way to travel to other places and times.
My least favorite book was The Amazing Bone by William Steigh. This book was too wordy. I did not like the way the story flowed. I felt that the story-line was choppy and disconnected.
Other ways to check for reading comprehension are:
Write a letter to the teacher
Compare and contrast characters, two books or texts, etc.
Create an alternate ending.
Create a book jacket.
Summarize a book
Write a letter to a character.
Make a puzzle depicting a scene or a character.
Create a poem about the text.
Create a crossword puzzle based on the story.
Make a cartoon of your favorite scene or an entire story.
Write a review.
Create a scrapbook.
My favorite book we read was My Great-Aunt Arizona by Gloria Houston. I liked the idea of a teacher making an impact on many generations of students. I would read this to my students and explain to them that we all have an impact in someone’s life. I would also point out to my students that books permit us a way to travel to other places and times.
My least favorite book was The Amazing Bone by William Steigh. This book was too wordy. I did not like the way the story flowed. I felt that the story-line was choppy and disconnected.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
