Advantages of Integrating Technology
https://centretechnologies.com/importance-of-technology-in-the-classroom/
After reading this article online, I have fallen in love with technology in the classroom even more! My favorite point from this article is when it states, "The internet gives the students instant access to answers beyond what's in their textbook". That is something that I have seen first hand in the classroom and the students respond well to researching their own information. Robyler says, "Simulations, or software that allows users to work with a computerized model of a real or imagined system, can help make these concepts more clean and meaningful" (Robyler 2017). Technology allows the students to find their own research and work independently if they choose. It is a great way to prepare the students for the future.
Disadvantages of Integrating Technology
http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/tech/index.pl?read=136
This article makes a lot of good points about the disadvantages of integrating technology in the classroom. The one point that stands out the most is when it says, "With all of the demands on students, the amount of time spent in the classroom is more and more valuable. To lose 10 minutes a day or class period because of connectivity issues is not feasible, and it's one important reason why technology integration often fails in schools". Teaching in the classroom has shown me how valuable time is and that there is no room for technical issues. If a teacher is depending on using technology for a lesson and it does not work, they will spend time trying to fix it or have to resort to a backup plan.
Specific Activities, Programs, Etc
Robyler lists some useful resources in chapter 12 for technology and social studies:
Materials Generators 1. http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/certificates/
This website allows you to make many different resources for your classroom. This is one of my favorites because I plan on using many different certificates as a reward for my students. It allows you to completely customize the certificate from the boarder to the actual reward being offered. Plus, you get to type the students name on it and personalize it for them. Robyler said, "Certificates congratulate students for accomplishments, and the students can take them home and share them with their parents and friends" (pg. 148). Students love to brag on themselves when they do something good and giving them that acknowledgement will encourage them even more to continue with the positive behavior. 2. http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/materials/substitute/daily_plan/
As you can tell, I found this website very resourceful. Having to take off of work can be very stressful for the teacher and the substitute if the teacher does not fully prepare for the day. This allows you to create a substitute schedule and leave notes for the substitute. You can plan out the day by time and make sure that the substitute knows what to do every minute of the day and any additional notes you might need to leave.
Testing and Grading Tools 1. http://www.flubaroo.com/
Flubaroo is one of my favorite websites! I love that it helps teachers save time when it comes to grading assessments and assignments. It saves teachers on average 3.7 hours a week. It is very easy to use and very resourceful. Robyler says, "Materials generators help teachers and students produce instructional materials on paper and online" (pg. 141). 2. https://www.flexiquiz.com/
This is a great website to create a variety of different tests. You have to create a profile, but it is free. This allows you to save all of your tests and get back to them if you need to. Robyler says, "Testing and grading tools Help teachers collect and track assessment information to measure student progress" (pg. 141) this allows the teachers to stay on track with assessments.
Graphic Tools 1. https://www.gimp.org/
This is a great visual aid for teachers to use for students. It is very resourceful to use during a variety of lessons. 2. https://galactic.ink/sketchpad/
This is a great visual, as well as, hands on activities for students. Teachers can even use this tool as an assessment. You can use a sketchpad for a multiple of resources.
Planning and Organizing 1. https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/highlight-tool/nlokifbmggdbcffkmccbobdnmfkkpape?hl=en
This is a great website to use with other teachers. This allows the teachers to add on and highlight certain parts of any document that they choose. The teachers can also share it and decide on certain lesson plans and activities they choose to do as a grade. 2. http://www.signupgenius.com/school/parent-teacher-conference-forms.cfm
This is a wonderful website to use for parent teacher conferences. The teacher creates a group and invites all of the parents to join. They can then schedule a time that works for their schedule and fits in for the teacher. The website send reminders to everyone apart of that group. What a great way to stay organized.
Research and Reference Tools 1. http://www.dictionary.com/
This would be great for students to use during vocabulary time or when they are reading and they come across a word they are unsure of. This would be great for students to use as opposed to asking the teacher. 2. http://www.thesaurus.com/
This is very similar to the previous website, except it allows students to learn more meaning of words. This is helpful for when students are writing a story and need to use a different word. This is also helpful when students are using resources to write and they need to put something into their own words.
Search Engines:
Search engines and proper web navigation are a great resource to provide more reliable information about a topic. Being able to use search engines correctly are very beneficial to not only the teachers, but for the students as well. There are two commonly cited types of search engines: Major search engines and Metacrawlers. The "Big 5" search engines are: Google, Bing, Yahoo, Ask.com, and AOL. These are the most used search engines in the US. Metacrawlers are programs that use more than one search engine at the same time to locate things. The top five include: Dogpile, Vivisimo, Kartoo, Mamma, and Surfwax. As Roblyer states, "Search Engines can be used in several different ways, depending on how you want to narrow the search"(pg. 183). This points out that when you or your students are using search engines, you should make sure to use keywords to narrow down your searches. This way, you will only receive useful resources.
Website Evaluation Video:
This short video is a great example on evaluating websites when deciding what resources to use. The video states to use the "5 W's: Who, What, When, Where, Why" Who put the website up/is the author? What information does this website give? When was the site created? Where did the author get his or her information? Why is this information useful? This would be a purposeful video for the students to use when they are deciding what websites they should use.
Favorite Professional Websites:
www.readingrockets.org- This is a website that has become popular among first year teachers. It provides teachers with good advice and resources available. It allows several modules on a variety of subjects and helps to prepare teachers. All of the information is the most current. This site also provides sufficient information on multiple topics you wish to search.
alex. state.al.us- This is probably the most popular website among teachers in the state of Alabama. This website contains all of the standards needed to be met for each grade, subject, and time of the year. This website has all of the current information, the site is complete, and all of the content is free from typos and misspellings. The pages load quickly and every page shows clearly how to navigate to parts of the site.
Online Safety and Security:
Online safety should be the first thing that teachers teach their students before they use the internet. Robyler (2016) states, "In addition to its benefits, the online world also has its share of society-wide debates, problems, and controversies. In many ways, it is a reflection of the best and worst qualities of our society". There are many dangers when it comes to using the internet, online predators, sales pitches aimed at children, privacy issues, cyberbullying, and email attachments with viruses. Students should be aware of these dangers and teachers should make sure that the students always take these in account when they are using the internet and should take the correct precautions. I believe that teachers make sure that the students know what is appropriate and inappropriate, as well as, what to do when something happens that should not.
Word Processing Software
As a teacher, using a word processing software would save a lot of time and it is something that most teachers are comfortable and confident using. Roblyer (2016) said, "Since it is a value as an aid to teaching and learning in universally acknowledged, word processing have become the most commonly used software in education." (pg. 114). It is something that will save time for teachers, it enhances document appearance, allows sharing of documents, allows collaboration on documents, and it also supports student writing and language learning (pg. 114-115). This gives teachers the opportunity to share and edit documents among one another year after year. This is something that benefits the students, as well. They are able to practice using technology that is crucial in the 21st century.
While it is important that students are up to date on technology, it is still just as important to practice handwriting the old fashion way. If students become too dependent on word processing documents, then they will also become too dependent on spell check and typed documents, as opposed to, their handwritten documents.
Spreadsheet Software
Spreadsheet is another important software tool that many teachers use everyday. They provide perfect visuals for students, as well as, great organization skills for teachers. Spreadsheets save time, organize displays of information, support asking "what if" questions, and increase motivation to work with mathematics (pg. 121). As a teacher, I would use spreadsheet to model math problems. This would make math more fun for the students and would benefit those visual learners, as well as, the hands-on learners. Students would be allowed to create their own spreadsheets and learn how to operate this software, that will benefit the students in the future.
One issue that could arise with this specific software would be that the students view the math more complicated than what it really is. They can see it as more of a challenge instead of a helpful tool. It is crucial for teachers to make sure that students understand how to operate and read the spreadsheets before they incorporate it into their lesson.
Presentation Software
As a teacher, I would use presentation software as a visual aid for my students. This would also be a good source to use as a checklist/agenda for the students to see what all they have completed for the day and what they have left to do. Presentation software work well for presenting information summaries, demonstrating materials for discussion, presenting illustrative problems and solutions, presenting assessments, and presenting book reports (pg. 131). Students are able to use them to present individual projects, as well as, group projects. Roblyer said, "Having learners become the designers and experts of content, in the end presenting their work to the class, can serve as a powerful technology integration lesson for any domain of learning" (pg. 132). This gives the students practice with technology and presenting in front of people. This also allows the teacher to assess the student(s) and see where they are academically and technical.
One issue that could arise with the presentation software would be the chance that students do not save their work or their presentation not working in general. There is always that chance with technology, but I believe that with the proper training and a back up plan, it will be very beneficial.
Classroom Use-Presentation Software
The software that I cannot wait to use in my classroom in the presentation software. I love that there are many different options that can benefit the teacher and the students. I will use this as a checklist so that the students know where we are through the day. They will know exactly what to expect next. This is a great tool to teach time management. I also feel that students will work more proficiently when they know what they have to finish in order to move on to the next.
I have attached a youtube video of the benefits of using technology in a classroom. It shows how well students respond to technology.
Hey, Y'all! My name is Cara Overton and I am recently married to my best friend. We have a 15 month old son & he is our everything! He is definitely our greatest (& most challenging) adventure. I am so excited to be pursing a degree in elementary education! I am beyond ready to be a teacher so that I can have an impact on students falling in love with learning again. I am ready to have a place where all of my students feel safe and loved, even if they don't have that at home. I am ecstatic to see all of their faces light up and their confidence boost when they learn something new or learn how to do something new. I am so excited to be able to teach our future generation.
I am ready to learn about several new technical techniques that will benefit me and my students in my classroom. I have already learned about so many resources just from signing up for everything for the online class. I think that a blog is a great idea for teachers to talk about the day that they and their students had. Parents & other teachers can follow the blogger and keep up to date on what is going on in the classroom. I love the idea of uploading pictures from the day, field trips, class parties, etc. Most all parents have access to the internet and can access a blog, especially since it is free. I am so happy thinking about what the rest of the semester holds for me. :)
