Chapter 7: Problem Solving and Inquiry Learning with Software and Web Tools

Chapter 7: Problem Solving and Inquiry Learning with Software and Web Tools

Focus Question: How can teachers use computer games and simulations as learning resources?

Today kids and students use technology in everything.  There are so many apps for phones and tablets that are games, some even educational.  Kids also play web-based games.  There are all types of video games, which both boys and girls play.  Often the boys play video games more than girls do, but never the less; students are spending lots of time playing video games.  There are so many apps available with education games.  Digital games for learning represent a new and exciting classification of education.  The digital games are bringing a new meaning and form of teaching.  Teachers can use games to emphasize what the students had already learned as well as teaching new lessons with games.  The games should include skills that will help improve learning in more than one area.  Games should also be focused on learning more than winning or losing. 

Tech Tool: Scratch

Scratch is a tech tool or software that creates video games.  Kids can use Scratch to make there own games using interactive art and animated stories.  Teachers can assign students to make their own games, such as math games.  The student’s can gave and manipulate the way the game looks and plays. 

Summary:

I think that using games in the classroom is a very helpful tool, if used properly.  I think a good way to use games or online games is to use them after the lesson. Almost as it is reinforcing what the students had already learned.  I also think using online games will keep the students interested in learning.  As teachers we should not be shutting out the technology that students use and love, we should be embracing it. 

Chapter 6- Teaching with Educational Websites and other Online Resources

Chapter 6- Teaching with Educational Websites and other Online Resources

Focus Question- What are WebQuests and virtual field trips?

WebQuests and virtual field trips are a new form of technology that is interactive for students.  It’s a web bases teaching tool that can be used in all levels in the classroom.  WebQuests are virtual experience where students go to a group of websites already picked out to explore the subject the teacher assigned.  WebQuests use various types of digital media such as texts, pictures, and videos. Virtual field trips open up the whole world to a classroom. Teachers can use virtual field trips to enhance learning as well as incorporating technology.

Tech Tool- PortaPortal

PortaPortal is a booking marking tool for teachers and students. It allows teachers and students to create a page with the websites they use the most.  Teachers could use PortaPortal to focus students on websites they want the students to use. 

Summary-

I think that using WebQuests and virtual field trips is so cool.  When I was younger my class did a virtual field trip to a marine biologist.  He talked all about sharks and other sea animals.  It was such a great experience.  I have never used WebQuest but it sounds like something I would enjoy.  I think that using this type of technology in classrooms would be extremely beneficial for students.  

Chapter 5- Researching and Evaluation Internet Information

Chapter 5- Researching and Evaluation Internet Information

Focus Question- How can teachers respond to problems of plagiarism when students use online sources?

As everyone is taught, plagiarism is bad; you can’t copy and paste someone else’s work as your own.  As a student I can say I am so sick of hearing that, we know it is bad.  But I can also say as a future teacher, I think a lot of the plagiarism comes back to us as teachers.  We say it is bad and not to do it, but we don’t teach students how to site the source or use someone else’s work.  In today’s world there are so many places to buy term papers, or mini essays from.  All anyone has to do is a Google search of what topic he or she are writing about and it pops up.  There are also so many types of resources to stop plagiarism, like Turn-it-In.  They tell you was percent of your paper was plagiarized.  I think that a lot of the responsibility comes back to the teacher to be assigning work that couldn’t be plagiarized. 

Tech Tool- Flickr

Flickr is such a cool website. It’s an online photo sharing and storage tool.  Flickr allows you to upload pictures and then share them with other Flickr members.  Flickr is a free account that anyone can create.  I think teachers could use Flickr for classroom pictures.  By creating an album that you allow any parents of the students to see they could download the pictures of the class to their computers and then have them right away.

Summary-

In the book it talks about plagiarizes and how to avoid it.  Well personally for me I think it comes to how the teacher is teaching it.  My comp has been teaching us about using quotes or others work.  There is really nothing wrong with it as long as you are citing it.  In my past experiences my teachers have always told me I could not copy and paste anyone’s work, even if I gave the author credit. Another great thing about my comp teacher is that she teaches us about tags and attributive tags.  Example of attributive tags would be if you found something in an article you wanted to use you could say according to the author’s name and title, then put the quote in.  Not only does it flow better in the paper unlike footnotes or parentheses it also teaches students that it is okay to use other peoples work as long as you give credit to the author.   I think there are so many article already written about so many topics that you could easily use there work or change there work enough so its your own.  As teachers we need to embrace and fully teach the internet, not block it out and tell kids they cannot use it.       

                   

Chapter 4 Integrating Technology and Creating Change

Integrating Technology and Creating Change- Chapter 4

Focus Question- How does technology promote educational change?

Technology is changing the way teachers teach.  I think that technology can be a very helpful tool in the classroom if the teacher is using it right.  With all the new tools teachers have access to, they still have to use it properly.  Traditional education may not be the most productive technique anymore.  Students know are much more technological.  I think that lots of students learn better with technology, if used properly. 

Tech Tool-

Edutopia is a tech tool that helps teachers.  It has different types of videos, blogs and other technology to help teachers integrate technology into the classrooms.   The website has been split into grade levels to help teachers find the tools they need.  They also have videos to help teachers. 

Summary-

I think that corroborating technology can be very useful and may be more productive than traditional learning.  I also think that technology has the potential of being misused in the classroom.  I have a teacher that would just put the YouTube videos on and then have us watch them.  There was no assessment at the end or discussion.  Most of the time we just played on our phones and didn’t pay attention at all.  When I become a teacher I want to make sure I am using technology and changing education but not in the way my teacher did.