Chapter 5

                                      
1)      What are search engines and how do they work? 

• Search engines, amazingly fast but not always well-understood tools, enable teachers and students to access online information by locating Web pages that have been linked to its database. 
• Online information searching is also know as "Web information research and retrieval" and involves knowing how to locate and analyze information from the internet. 
• Teachers often benefit from using specialized search resources that narrow the focus of their searches to more educationally relevant materials. 
• Electronic note taking offers teachers and students new ways to record and save the information they locate online.                          

Tech Tool  5.1  Photo and Audio Resources on the Web
      So, how cool is LibriVox. I just love this! When I have more time I would love to play around with this. I did look up Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure " and listened for about a minute. And, if I had even more time, I would volunteer to read. Hopefully, next summer I will get the opportunity. I would like to get my daughters involved as well : )
 
Summary: As always, there is a plethora of useful information. I found it interesting, that in an ETS pilot study of 1,400 college students and high school seniors, few demonstrated strong information and media skills (Educational Testing Service,2004)

• Only  52 percent judged the objectivity of a group of websites correctly
• Only 35 percent successfully narrowed an overly broad Internet search
• Only 12 percent constructed a presentation slide (PowerPoint) using directly relevant points

 Another interesting fact, it has been estimated that "less than half the searchable Web is fully searchable in Google." All this time, I thought Google had all the answers...   LoL        

I like the idea of electronic note taking NoteStar. I either print out pages, or try and copy information down on a piece of paper. Another one they mention is a commercial software program for either Mac or PC computers called Office OneNote 2007.

Google has all kinds of tools, the one I'm looking forward to, is Google for Educators
I also like the idea of the Google books Library Project

I wondered if the Boolean Search was pertinent information because I didn't quite understand it.

I found that their are safety measures that parents and schools can use on their computers to keep children from seeing and or reading inappropriate content.

When using the computer, one has to keep in mind that there is a ton of misinformation  malinformation, messed-up information, and mostly useless information. So, remember to consider the five criteria: accuracy, authority, objectivity, currency, and coverage.

Hello Australia & Finland

Photo credit to Audrey on Flikr 

Greetings from America. Hello everyone, my name is Cereus Keller. I am named after a night-blooming cactus. I attached a picture of the flower. It is also referred to as The Queen of the Night. The bloom opens up at dusk and closes before sunset.

    I was  born in Palm Springs, California. I also spent some time in San Diego, California. Currently, I live in Naples Florida. It is sunny here year round. We don't experience much of a change in seasons. Hot, Hotter, and Hottest. In the summer it reaches 34.4 degrees with humidity at 78% so it feels like 39.4. Late October through March is when it's tolerable. This is when all the people from up north (snow birds) come visit/vacation here. Most have a second home here, so they will stay all five months. Some of the things I enjoy doing: going to the beach, reading, roller skating, nature walks, and playing with my cats. My sister, brother, and mom live in California and my father lives in Springfield, Missouri. I eventually would like to go back to the west coast, maybe Oregon or Washington. Of course, I would love to be able to visit Australia or Finland one day : )  

Chapter 4

#2 What are the key stages and pressing issues of technology integration?

Stages: Entry, teacher needs to gain specific skills in how to use technologies before he/she is able to      
apply the new knowledge. Adoption, teacher knows enough to use tech. in the classroom, but only at a basic and casual level. Adaptation, teacher is using tech. regularly as part of teaching. Appropriation, teacher is using technology as both inside-the-classroom and outside-the-classroom tool. Invention, teacher is exploring new ways to creatively use tech. in and out of classroom as well as adding emerging technologies.

Issues: * Unwillingness to change favorite lesson plans to include technology * Reluctance to use technology when teaching new lesson plans * Using computers as a reward or punishment for student* Using computers as an add-on to other activities* Using computers as a way to separate students by ability groups.

http://www.edutopia.org/adopt-and-adapt is the site I chose. I was able to find On-line Tech Tutorials, which is going to be extremely useful for me. In order for me to get better, I have to teach myself and practice what I learn.

I discovered that I'm at the Entry stage, as if we didn't know that. Lol. My goal would be to at least achieve the Adaptation stage. It really comes down to knowing when and how to use technology. For me, the importance lies in whether or not my students are benefiting and excelling. If technology can help them learn easier and better, than why not. I will need to make the most out of the resources available to me.

Chapter3

#1. What is meant by "lesson development using technology"?

It is what I will be doing as a teacher when preparing: what to teah, how to teach, and how to dertermine if my students are learning the material. There are endless resources on the computer to help me with this process.

I chose the National Center for Improving Student Learning and Achievement in Mathmatics and Science(NCISLA) http:ncisla.wcerruw.org I noticed there was teaching mathmatics to diverse cultures on this site. I was also able to navigate it easier than the others I tried looking at. I like the idea of the Gliffy site www.gliffy.com but need to spend more time on it.

All of the standardized testing freeks me out! I like the philosiphy of performance based assessment vs. standardized assessment. I noticed on one of the sites,I think it was the pbs website where you can plug your state in and they would gear lesson plans acccording to your standards. I think it is absolutely amazing how many tools are on here to help you with lesson planning, assessment, rubric, and tests. All the help I need is at my fingertips. This book is easy to read and stock full of tools and information.

Chapter 2

#6. How does technology provide feedback to support learning?
Interactive computer software and educational websites, intelligent tutoring systems, and even simple learning machines provide rapid electronic feedback to students. For instance, in some programs, when a student answers correctly, they are allowed to move on. When the student answers incorrectly, the program suggests clues and hints in order to help solve the question. If the student still continues to miss the question, the program will adjust the level of difficulty, till the student is caught up.

I like the Visual Dictionary Online (http://visual.merriam-webster.com). I think this is a great idea, it gives a detailed picture of the word you are looking up.  It doesn't have every word, but it what it does have is beneficial, especially to the younger student. I am going to start using this website with my 1st and 5th grader at home.

I am intimidated by technology. It has become one of my concerns, as a future teacher. I consider myself to be old-school, or a technology immigrant. After reading this chapter, I became enlightened by the endless possibilities that technology has to offer. It can be used as an inspiration to students. If used in the right way, it can be instrumental in the teaching/learning process. Students can work independently or in groups. Positive feedback and creativity is reinforced. The visual learning aspects are incredible. Interactive videos and 3D visuals make difficult subjects comprehensible. I have viewed technology as my enemy, but it's actually quite the opposite. Technology can be one of the best tools I have in my classroom. I also found out that test scores went up, after students started using computers. I really like this book, I like all the examples of websites that they offer.