Final Posting

I completed both of the course evaluations and have checked my grades on blackboard. Everything looks good! :)

Internet Safety Reflection

1. What article did you choose to read for your article of choice?
I read "An Ensign to the Nations, a Light to the World" by President Gordon B. Hinckley
2. Describe the video resources you watched?
I was able to watch ten clips from the website "Netsmartz" as well as the "Fauxpaws" video, some PBS documentaries, and "Katie's Story" from WebWise Kids. The Netsmartz videos were the most memorable because they gave very specific scenarios about online bullying and predation. I think that this was a great site to introduce teens to the dangers of the internet and teach them how to deal with online persecution.
3. Write a paragraph describing what your most important "take-aways" were from the readings and video?
The message that I internalized from this activity was that the internet can be used for good, but there are many dangers associated with it that we, as teachers, need to be aware of. It is so important to teach the children of this generation about internet safety and what can be done to avoid online predators. I also think it is important that children learn to protect their identity by not revealing personal information on websites. I thought it was interesting to learn about online bullying as well, since I have not thought much about the possibility of being teased on the internet by friends at school. This is also something we should teach students about.
4. Write a paragraph or more describing the details of your "doing" experience (you don't need to include any names). This might include:
The person I talked to actually knew a lot about the topic. He is a big advocate for internet safety and actually does not approve of any sharing of personal information on the internet. He really does not like MySpace, Facebook, or even Blogging. Basically, he thinks that the farthest you should take online correspondence is email. He does not like instant messaging or chat rooms either. Anyway, he knew that you should not give your real name, address, or any contact information to anyone on the internet and that you should not agree to meet anyone either. He was a little surprised to hear that some young teenage girls actually agree to meet the men they chat with online. He did not know that some people are not aware of internet predators or precautions to take when using the internet. I think that because he now knows stories like this, he will be even more precautious with internet safety and especially with his children.

TPACK

Here is the link to my TPACK!
http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dc3hgqkq_10d4xhzfcv

Lesson Plans

Here is the link to my lesson plans on google docs:
Science: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc3hgqkq_875c3f9cv
Math: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc3hgqkq_7g85k8md6
Language Arts: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dc3hgqkq_6cd8wzrfh

Week 10 Video Response

I think that the most important thing I learned from watching these videos is that technology can be used in the classroom even with young children. I have been feeling like the lessons I have planned thus far in our IP&T class have focused more on the upper grades in elementary school and I was having a hard time thinking of how I could write three lesson plans and implement one in the first grade classroom I am currently in. These videos demonstrated that, as a teacher, you can be the one to teach young children how to use technology. I think that my fear was that the students would not be familiar with computers and I would have to teach them the basics of how to even use a mouse. These videos showed that you can be the one to teach them that. I was inspired at how these teachers used technology even in kindergarten classrooms.

Technology Survey

In working at a Title I school, I went in expecting some extras in technology availability that may not have been at a different school. However, since I am in a first grade classroom, my teacher does not use the technology that is available and she was not aware of everything that is available to her. In talking with other faculty at the school, I found that Geneva Elementary has two classroom laptop carts, a classroom IPod touch set, as well as a classroom set of Nintendo DS. This really interested me and I was surprised to find out that the older classes take spelling tests on individual IPods and do math on the Nintendos. It is very cool to see different ways technology can be used for education.

I completed the midcourse evaluation as well as the informed consent.

Science Activity