Educators should aid the student at whatever their level and interests are. If students today react positively to video games, then that is what the instructor should use. However, in a lot of school districts the money isn't there to make sure every student has access to a computer. This is a shame, but true. But if the technology is available and it benefits the students academically then why not use it?
The only way online chats or instant messaging are valuable in the class room is if there is a way to turn it off during instruction time and if the students know the teacher has total access to everything they type. Because I can see students talking about pointless stuff while the teacher is talking and when they are supposed to be working. However, online chats and instant messaging are great at home for them to talk with fellow students about the homework especially if they don't understand it or even contact the teacher to seek help.
Asynchronus communication is what we do when we respond to the postings of other students in ecollege. This is great especially if you lead a busy life which we all do and take time at different parts of the day to sit down and type. This is mainly useful for information that does not need to be responded to immediately. If you need a response immediately then face to face communication is always better because you know you have their undivided attention.
Using podcasts with students can be useful especially if the teacher wants students from different backgrounds to get to know each other. They can be assigned to interview each other. I know the question has to do with whether or not it enhances their learning, but sometimes learning about a student from a different culture because you have to do an assignment together enhances how that student views the world around them.
As an educator I would have to learn more about video games myself. I do have two boys and they play video games, but frankly I have too many other things to do. I do find the idea of the student creating a video game based on teaching other students a new concept a good idea. I have a son who was not going to sit down and do the traditional flashcards to learn the alphabet. Well, a friend of mine told me of a website that made the alphabet fun and included educational games. So I took him to that website and helped him to figure out the games and he loves that website and he had fun learning the alphabet. So as far as video games in the classroom, I find it would work if it was linked to helping the student learn a concept.
I have two sons and they do have video games, but they don't want to play them everyday. They would rather play on the trampoline or with their friends. But if they wanted to play video games everyday, I would limit the amount of time they spent playing because I want them to be engaged with what the rest of the family is doing and not off in some other world.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Week 6 Assignment
I found the activities this week to be challenging yet not so hard that I couldn't figure them out. The brochure was very different, but Publisher made it so easy to figure out. As far as last weeks assignment, I have used Excel a lot at work and there really wasn't anything new that I learned. I'm sure there is more to the program than we did last week so hopefully I can learn something new from Excel in the future. At this point I don't think there is anything I need to review, but I don't want to be arrogant and assume that I know everything.
I felt that Desktop Publishing is great. My husband is a graphic designer and can do brochures with his eyes closed and he doesn't need Publisher to help him, but for people like me who aren't creative this program is so helpful. I would like to work with this program again in the future and see if I can create a brochure that is purely my own idea. I think if I had to create something for my classroom, I would create a brochure about the author's and their books we will be reading. They might actually read the information if it is present creatively.
Trudy Paul
I felt that Desktop Publishing is great. My husband is a graphic designer and can do brochures with his eyes closed and he doesn't need Publisher to help him, but for people like me who aren't creative this program is so helpful. I would like to work with this program again in the future and see if I can create a brochure that is purely my own idea. I think if I had to create something for my classroom, I would create a brochure about the author's and their books we will be reading. They might actually read the information if it is present creatively.
Trudy Paul
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Week 5 Assignment
After using Excel to create a grade book and material aid, I think it is so easy. I didn't realize how much I already knew about Excel until we did this assignment. I definitely feel more confident in my ability to create documents that will aid me in the classroom.
As a teacher I can use Excel to post my students' grades which makes averaging the grades so much easier. I can also use Excel to create puzzles and games to help my students grasp the subject we are learning in class.
The book talks about the three primary functions of Spreadsheets which are storing, calculating and presenting information. I think all three are valuable. The storing and calculating can be very similar, but I think they are useful as in our assignment with storing students names, grades, and calculating averages. Also, when you want to present information to the class in an exciting way as with animated time lines, the student is more likely to pay attention to the information.
As a teacher I can use Excel to post my students' grades which makes averaging the grades so much easier. I can also use Excel to create puzzles and games to help my students grasp the subject we are learning in class.
The book talks about the three primary functions of Spreadsheets which are storing, calculating and presenting information. I think all three are valuable. The storing and calculating can be very similar, but I think they are useful as in our assignment with storing students names, grades, and calculating averages. Also, when you want to present information to the class in an exciting way as with animated time lines, the student is more likely to pay attention to the information.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Week 4 Assignment
For this week I went on the quick tour of the Inspiration website. I found that the Inspiration software can make organizing thoughts for a paper easier. I found it interesting in that it will automatically create an outline for you just by the click of a button. I would only be able to use the Inspiration software if the school district had it and if my students are able to use the computers at school. But if those two criteria are met, then I would love to use this software. I think for the student, it can be fun and they are actually learning at the same time.
Writing assignments where the student is able to organize they thoughts would be best. Because the hardest part of writing a paper is the organizing of thoughts in a way that makes sense. so with that in mind, I would utilize the concept maps because in effect the student is brainstorming and seeing how theirs ideas relate to one another. Then they can use what's in the model to put their paper together. The students can help each other by bouncing ideas off each other. They can also use the databases to find additional information or contribute to each others work.
Trudy Paul
Writing assignments where the student is able to organize they thoughts would be best. Because the hardest part of writing a paper is the organizing of thoughts in a way that makes sense. so with that in mind, I would utilize the concept maps because in effect the student is brainstorming and seeing how theirs ideas relate to one another. Then they can use what's in the model to put their paper together. The students can help each other by bouncing ideas off each other. They can also use the databases to find additional information or contribute to each others work.
Trudy Paul
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