Best and worst?

Technology used to scare me, and I was incredibly intimidated by it.  However, now I feel much more comfortable using technology and incorporating it into my lessons.  The best thing about this class was the massive amount of information about technology that I was given and taught how to use.  For example, I learned how to use Google docs and how to have multiple people working on one document at a time.  I was able to integrate this into the classroom and have students work on their projects in groups by having them share and collaborate via Google docs.  Also, I learned how to use multiple new presentation software.  For instance, I learned how to use and create a Prezi, Google presentation, slide rocket, and Empressr.  I actually used these in other classes to help enhance my presentation and all were very effective. 

              I also really liked the blogs that we did for this class.  I helped me to focus on a specific idea and/ or content that is important in the education field.  Plus, I got to read the blogs of my peers and find out their thoughts and ideas, which was always beneficial. 

            The worst part of this class is hard to decide because I really did enjoy this class.  If I had to choose it would be the video editing.  It was just really hard for me for to complete and is struggled some with the technology and trying to get it the way I wanted it.  I learned a lot from this and my next video edit will be better, hopefully.  It was just really frustrating at times, but will be useful to have in my “tool box”.  Overall, I would recommend this course with Professor Becksfort to all students at Xavier.      

Technology makes everything better?

Using technology in the classroom can be extremely useful and beneficial to both students and teacher when used appropriately.  However, when a teacher does not use technology effectively it can take away from the content and leave students more confused than anything else.  I think the use of a visual presentation can be very effective.  However, if that is the only thing the teacher does, students will get board and become uninterested and the technology will no longer be effective.  It is best to find a balance in technology and know when it will enhance your lesson and when it will take away from your lesson.  Time and practice are both great ways to find out what works best.    

Technology Presentation

I recently observed a teacher lecture to the class for the entire period without using any form of technology (no writing on the board, no posters/ maps… I mean nothing).  The lecture was interesting to me, since I happen to have recently read a book on the topic.  However, even I was even distracted by the number of students talking and falling asleep.  I think this lesson needed the aid of technology desperately.  First, I would have written the essential questions that the class was going to cover on the board.  This would not only serve as a starting of point, but also be a constant reminder to students of what they needed to know by the end of class.  Second, I would have used a PowerPoint or some other form of visual presentation like Prezi, Google Docs, etc.  I would have given students guided notes, which would highlight the key ideas and help students learn to take effective notes.  I think technology can help capture students attention and keep their attention by making the content more interesting.         

Learning and Fiction

I recently read a history book that was fiction, however it was based on historical facts.  This book was about a teenage boy who grew up during the New Youth Movement in China.  This novel relied on historical evidence to ensure the realness of the story and also accurately described historical figures living during this time. By having students read a book from the perspective of someone their own age it makes it easier for them to connect to the material.  I think students can gain valuable learning from fiction.  With that being said, as a history teacher I will also push my students to read non-fiction and primary sources. 

Students have a hard time learning when they are only presented with theoretical examples or non-real situations.  Students learn best when the material presented to them is concrete and the teachers illustrated clear meaningful examples.  In history, this may be hard to achieve because there is a vast cultural gap from the past and now.  However, there are new games online that actually put students in the shoes of people fighting in the American Revolution and various other wars and concentration camps.  This helps students get a better understanding of what life was like during various times in history.  Fiction is useful and I would argue necessary in the classroom

Portfolio Assessment

I think there is value in portfolio assessment because it breaks away from the standard test but allows students to show that they have met the performance standards.  Also, students learn in multiple ways and I think a teacher needs to have multiple types of assessments, one of which needs to be a portfolio assessment.  For example, in my Tech and Topics class we were to complete a portfolio in the form of a website.  This was challenging for me because it required that I use multiple different types of technology to show that I met the standards for the class.  This portfolio took the entire semester to complete, which gave me time to understand new information and incorporate it into my portfolio.  Now, when I step back and look at my portfolio I am proud of all the work I have accomplished and excited about all the new tools I have learned.  I found a short article on why computer-based portfolios are important for students.  Here is a brief summary followed by the link to the article: 

“The implementation of computer-based portfolios for student assessment is an exciting educational innovation. This method of assessment not only offers an authentic demonstration of accomplishments, but also allows students to take responsibility for the work they have done. In turn, this motivates them to accomplish more in the future. A computer-based portfolio system offers many advantages for both the education and the business communities and should continue to be a popular assessment tool in the "information age."

Electronic Portfolios: A New Idea in Assessment 

Lesson Critique

Lets be honest, I hated this assignment.  I was extremely nervous before teaching a lesson to my peers and even more nervous that my professor was video recording me.  It was something close to torture to watch myself and even harder to write a paper critiquing my presentation.  However, after I finished, I realized that this helped me a lot.  I saw that I have some strengths and need to be confident in my ability.   I knew the content and felt comfortable with my knowledge on the Great War.  On the other hand, I noticed the areas where improvement is needed.  I tend to say "um" when I am nervous and look upward toward the ceiling.  I also seemed pretty stiff and didn't move around at all.  I need to be more comfortable with my teaching style.  So as they say, practice make perfect.
Below is my paper:

Betsy Moore

EDMS 333

Presentation Critique

            I recently taught a lesson introducing The Great War and was videotaped.  I was able to go back and watch myself teach.  After watching my video I analyzed my strengths and areas that need improvement. 

My strengths when teaching this introduction to The First World War were numerous.  First, I reviewed what the students had recently learned, and how that tied into what they will learn about World War One.  For example, I reviewed the definition of nationalism and imperialism; then reminded the class when we discussed the two terms.  Next, I informed the class how these terms will be important during The Great War.  Another strength of my presentation was the use of technology by incorporating a PowerPoint into my lesson.  On the PowerPoint I showed maps and pictures.  Some of the pictures were taken during the war, while others were taken after the war.  All of the pictures helped students to understand the seriousness and devastation of The Great War.  The final positive aspect of my presentation was my ability to relate The Great War to today.  I showed pictures of modern day France where violence from the war can still be seen.  There are still numerous bunkers and trenches in France that reminds people of the Great War. 

            Although there were strengths to my presentation, there were also areas which could use improvement.  For example, when teaching I tend to move my hands a lot.  This can be good because it shows my excitement for the material and can be helpful to keep students attention.  However, if I move my hands excessively it can take away from the instruction and be a distraction.  I need to find a healthy balance.  Another weakness of my presentation was my abundant use of the word “um”.  Whenever I am nervous I tend to say um and look toward the ceiling.  I need to work on not using the word um and keep eye contact with students.  When I was teaching I stood in the same spot the entire time.  I would like to feel more comfortable and be able to walk around the class while I am teaching the students.  By walking around the class I could ensure that students are listening and make sure they are taking notes. 

            Overall, I am happy with my first attempt at teaching an introductory lesson.  I am confident that I will be able to improve my weaknesses and strengthen the positive aspects of my presentation skills.  I am excited to teach again and become more comfortable with my teaching style.  It was beneficial to watch myself teach and to critique myself.  This is something I will do again in the future, evaluate my teaching, in order to keep improving.    

Video Editing

Video editing is scary and overwhelming during ones first attempt; at least it was for me.  However, after “playing around” on the software, it became easy, and dare I say even fun.  I used video editing to trim down my introduction to a lesson in order to make it the best video possible.  I think this tool would be great for students.  For example, have students make a video of themselves doing a presentation, or a video of a specific topic, like how to best study for a test.  After completing the recording process students can learn and use new technology to edit, cut, and create an awesome video they can share with the class and others.

Technology and Teaching…

I recently taught an introduction to a lesson on The Great War.  The purpose of the introduction was to connect what the class had learned to what we are going to learn about the First World War.  Technology was necessary in order to effectively present the information.  I used a PowerPoint presentation to convey main ideas of the war and most importantly pictures.  By using PowerPoint the pictures could be displayed on a large screen where all students could see them at the same time and make comments.  The images also looked better on a PowerPoint than when printed out.  In addition, I can easily embed this PowerPoint presentation onto my blog or website, another advantage of using technology.  Technology, when used appropriately, is an extremely effective tool to help increase student curiosity, attention, and learning.

Web pages... what can a teacher do with them?

Web pages can be extremely helpful to students because they can be accessed at any time from any computer or device that has an Internet connection.  When I become a teacher I want to have a website for each of my classes.  My websites will contain important document like the syllabus, behavior guidelines/ rules, and handouts.  This will be helpful because if a student leaves their syllabus or handout at school, they can print it from home.  Also, this ensures that parents can access important documents, which will help keep them informed.  I would also put some cool interesting photographs that are relevant to what we are studying in class.  For example, if we are learning about Ancient Egypt then I could have pictures of the pyramids and mummies.  On the website I would also have links to other websites that would be useful to students.  I would have a link the Library of Congress’ website so they could explore the information on the website and learn more about a subject than what the book and teacher has to taught them.   I would make sure that my website is linked to the schools website so it can be accessed from the school’s site, making it easy to find.  For students who are digital natives, it is important for them to have access to educational and beneficial sites to guide their learning.      

Copyright Laws

I always thought that teachers and students were free to use almost anything as long as they cited their reference.  After last weeks class, I realize that there are many copyright laws that are ever changing.  It seems that copyrights laws get longer and longer.  However, there is new technology that allows people to share photos, videos, and other multi-media.  There are several sites where someone can go to get multi-media that are not copyrighted and available to use: http://www.gutenberg.org/, http://www.archive.org/, http://creativecommons.org/, http://www.loc.gov/index.html.
I got the picture below from creative commons and the photographer said that people could use his photo as long as he gets credit for it.  If a person cites the photographer then he or she could use this in a presentation or in a portfolio.
See Photo in next blog post!

Photo by Seansie from Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdho/558951670/ 

How to motivate students?

Motivating students is challenging especially when each student is different and requires different forms of motivation.  I would prefer that students and adults be intrinsically motivated because then the desire to learn is coming from within, rather than some outside force.  However, that is unlikely.  Therefore, responsibility is placed on the teachers to motivate their students to learn. 

            Competition!  Students love to play games and why not make having fun also involve working hard.  Students can create games that involve what they are trying to learn in school.  There can be a variety of different competitions, like playing with a friend, dividing the class into two groups, or even competing against yourself based on improvement. 

            However, not all children respond to competition.  Some children might be motivated by affiliation.  For example, some kids really like to belong to groups, clubs, or sport because they like to be apart of a team.  The teacher could get tee-shirts made for the class or even have school memorabilia to give away to participating students.

            Some students might be more autonomous, meaning he or she like to work alone.  Therefore, the teacher could have them do an individual project, or tell them that if they meet certain goals they can go to the computer lab for independent study.

            Other students might be motivated by achievement.  If a student did better then maybe he or she would try harder.  If a student is constantly receiving negative feedback, eventually he or she will give up.  Encouragement can go a long way to help a student feel more self-confident and raise his or her self-efficacy.

            Teacher can help motivate their students by giving them some choices about what to learn and maybe how to learn it.  If teachers give students a wide variety of information then there is more chance that the students can find something interesting about a specific topic.  Motivation is hard, but necessary to facilitate meaningful learning.                    

Legal Case- Ingram v. Wright (1977)

I recently reviewed a court case, Ingram v. Wright (1977).  This case is about middle school boys who were being paddled by their teacher.  The boys told their parents, who then filed a law suit against the teachers.  The parents claimed that the boys eighth and fourteenth amendments were being violated.  This case went all the way to the Supreme Court.  In the end, the court ruled that students were not protected under the eighth amendment because that was used for criminals, and since students are not criminals, it does not apply to them.  The court did not fear that students would be treated unfairly in the school because there were multiple protections to prevent it.  The court also recognized that if a student was mistreated, the teacher can be punished by the school and local law enforcement.  Students, according to the court justices:  Harry A. Blackmun, Warren E. Burger, Lewis F. Powell, Jr., William H. Rehnquist, and Potter Stewart, were not protected under the fourteenth amendment.  The court argued that the fourteenth amendment is the right to due process before your rights of liberty and freedom are taken away.  Therefore, since students liberty and freedom are not being taken away, this does not apply to them.  This court case also opened the door for other states to make laws or rules regarding their punishment in school.  


Here is a link to my presentation (my first time using prezi- if you haven't used it, check it out): http://prezi.com/sc8ykoepvagg/legal-case/

What Makes an Effective Presentation?

What makes a good presentation?  As a student I have sat through numerous presentations that have been outstanding.  Unfortunately, I have also witnessed presentations that were not so great.  As a future teacher I will be making numerous presentations and I want my presentations to be insightful, interesting, and not put students to sleep.             

            To make a presentation there are numerous mediums that one can use that will display the information in an effective way.  The most widely used presentation software is PowerPoint.  However, there is also other presentation software available like Keynote, Open Office, and Prezi to communicate with an audience.  Although, I am aware of these other software, I have only used PowerPoint simply because that is what I have been taught. 

            In order to make an effective PowerPoint presentation a person should design the slides carefully, using a mix of text and images, choosing carefully and with good effect the font types and sizes, any background images or styles, and the words themselves. Fix all typographical and other errors, and make sure that the show runs smoothly following the order of one’s presentation.  One should not be surprised by the next slide to appear. Avoid the worst PowerPoint mistakes, including reading directly from ones slides (that is what your own notes are for) and overly complicated or overly full slides.  At times it will be helpful to supplement the presentation with a handout if one needs to provide longer lists or complicated information.

   Below is a list on links that I have found helpful in the past:

Don McMillan - Death by PowerPoint

http://www.youtube.com/donmcmillancomedy#p/u/17/KbSPPFYxx3o

PowerPoint tips

http://brandtkrueger.wordpress.com/2010/11/30/5-ways-to-make-your-powerpoint-not-suck/

http://www.slideshare.net/jessedee/steal-this-presentation-5038209

Finding images online for your presentations

This site allows you to search Flickr for images that you can use for no cost, without breaking copyright laws. Just check the image's details - usually the photographer just wants you to include a small caption with their name.

http://compfight.com

Then there is Wikimedia Commons (related to Wikipedia). For images to be part of any wikipedia article or of Wikimedia Commons, the photo is publicly available and free to reuse (in the public domain).

http://commons.wikimedia.org/

Xavier's Library Guide to PowerPoint

Here are books and other resources that the library has identified:

http://libguides.xavier.edu/Effective_PowerPoint

Don Norman on PowerPoint

 cliff_atkinson_don_norman_interview.pdf (33.323 KB)

Simmons from www.presentations.com

 simmons_2004.pdf (202.404 KB)

Prezi

Want to experiment with Prezi, the non-linear, web-based alternative to PowerPoint? Or want to see some sample presentations made with prezi? You can visit or make a free account to create your own presentations. 

http://prezi.com

My Article Review

https://docs.google.com/document/d/16drnY6sAJsza1m2mwGNj8PcHjDdNN5A8Ir5tTJHn4JM/edit?hl=en_US

A Good Article

I recently read Dr. Wayne Journell’s article, “Maximizing the Potential of Computer-Based Technology in Secondary Social Studies Education”.  This was an extremely good article that I would highly recommend reading.  Dr. Journell writes about how much technology can be used in the classroom.  He gives numerous free website that contain a plethora of information about historical subjects and current events.  Dr. Journell continues to write ways that this technology can be used in the classroom to facilitate learning, critical thinking, debate, and discussion. Dr. Journell also cites many studies that have found technology to have positive educational influence.  Dr. Journell’s goal of the article was to show educators where to find important types of technology and how to apply that, in an effective way, to the classroom.  In the process of explaining technology he also excites the reader about social studies and inspires teacher to teach better.  Here is a link to the article:  http://www.socstrpr.org/files/Vol%204/Issue%201%20-%20Spring,%202010/Practice/4.1.5.pdf.
 

A First Time for Everything...

Wow, I have never had such an interesting first class.  I feel like I stepped into a new world full of technology.  I would consider myself "technology challenged", but really excited to learn.  I am extremely interested to see how this new medium can be explored to further my education and the education of others.  I think blogs can be used to share a great wealth of information.  It is an easy way to read a lot of information located in one easy spot.