Internet Safety

I decided to read "it's 'Only' Violence" by Brad J. Bushman because I read that Brooke read it and liked it. I also watched some of the videos on the netsmartz website, the fauxpaws video, and frontline PBS. From watching these videos I learned that there are many great things that we can get from the internet...we just need to be careful about how much time and energy we put into technology. There is nothing better than real life conversation and if children and adults get to involved in virtual communication and neglect person to person conversation we can really harm ourselves.

I asked my neice what she new about internet safety and I was actually really surprised at how much she knew. (she must have just had internet safety at school or something) She knew not to give any personal information out over the internet and that we shouldn't talk to strangers. She also said we shouldn't spend to much time on the computer either. I was really surprised at how informed she was about internet safety. I shared a couple things that I learned to her and I think that she will spend less time on the computer and more time with her friends:)

I also completed arts 2-4

Final Post :)

I found it very interesting all of the different strategies to teaching children while not causing self esteem problems. I totally give unsolicited help to students because I want them to succeed but I now see that I am only causing more problems. Allow students to come to grasp with the idea that failure is okay we just have to find an alternate strategy for success.

TPACK ASSIGNMENT

IP&T Motivation

1. I would say that the students in my cohort class were more intrinsically motivated when it came to academics. The teacher never really had to do a ton of motivation to get the students to want to learn. However, I do believe that my mentor teacher used an extrinsic motivation system to teach her students develop their behaviors into intrinsic motivation. Most of the rewards systems in my second grade class were behavior oriented.
2. By using appropriate awards and praise we can allow our students to move more towards intrinsic motivation by allowing them to see why it is important for them to behave well or why it is important for them to do well in school. Once the students can seen the importance they may become intrinsically motivated. However, if we do not use praise and rewards sparingly and if we use them inappropriately we can cause our students to move from intrinsic motivation to extrinsic because they feel they are being rewarded for completing something and not the reward of just being a good reader.
3. Because if students feel as if they are capable at succeeding they believe they can do it and don’t get frustrated however if it is something that is too difficult they often give up because it is something they believe they can not master. If students also know the important or the relevance of learning and certain skill than they can move to an intrinsic motivation because they want to succeed because they see the importance of understanding.
4. I saw a lot of positive reinforcement in my classroom that I felt was a student-level strategy for increasing motivation. Instead of just giving useless comments like “good job” my mentor teach would point out aspects in their work that were done well. This allows they students to see that she is good at something or that she has done something correctly so they know how to do it the next time around. As a classroom level we used table reward system, which allowed students to work cooperatively together to try to receive rewards as a table. It was amazing how that positive peer pressure worked.
5. I believed with the self-worth theory because I believe that if students have the self confidents that they can do something they are more likely to succeeed than in any other circumstances.

TPACK Lesson Plans

English: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcjbwq8_5gj4t66c4
Science: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcjbwq8_10gvmwzkg8
Math: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcjbwq8_9hr4kx3dm

http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcjbwq8_10gvmwzkg8

TPACK

Literacy:http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcjbwq8_8fv592cns
Mathmatics: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcjbwq8_9hr4kx3dm
Science: http://docs.google.com/View?id=dcjbwq8_10gvmwzkg8

Children with Technology

I learned so many different ways that I could use technologies in my classroom. It also gave me a better understanding of how to affectivly use technologies in classrooms. I noticed that because the students are interested in the technology that it allows them to focus and get involved with the lesson that is being taught.

Another thing that I noticed from these three videos is that it is very realistic to use technology at a very young age. In the '"Brown Bear Brown Bear" she was using technology at the at of 4 and 5 which is so amazing to me. I also loved that technology allowed the students studying spiders to communicate and work with students in a completely different state. I think that would be really fun for the kids. These clips gave me reassurance that I know enough about technology to use it into my classroom if I really want to.

Technology

My initial feelings and thoughts when walking into my classroom was that they did not have access to hardly any technologies. As I have researched and looked for more technology support I have found that although they do not have much permanent technologies they do have access. Most equipment needs to be checked out from the library in advance. Each classroom has an overhead and two computers with some software but mostly internet sites.

I have completed parts 1 and 2

Science Projects I viewed

1) Phases of the Moon in a Month - http://cyndihampshire.blogspot.com/
2) Phases of the Moon throughout the Year- http://kyliemm.blogspot.com/
3) Phases of the Moon in a Month- http://nataleeb.blogspot.com/

I found that this was really easy and something that would be helpful and fun in a science classroom. The microscopes are simple enough that a young child could use them without alot of teacher assistance. I also think that making these short videos is something that would be fun for the kids because they actually get to produce some of their projects.

Week 7 Readings

1. From my experience I agree with the view of constructivism. I believe that we create our own knowledge and make sense of new knowledge by using our own personal experiences to construct our opinions views and ideas on a certain subject. I believe that a teacher can stand at the front of a class and teach a lecture and two students get to completely different things because of the background knowledge of each student.
2. I think that it is important for every student to know about disequilibrium because it would allow them to understand that everyone goes through similar experiences as they learn new unfamiliar material. It is this disequilibrium that allows us to strive to learn so that we can restore balance.
3. The idea of assimilation is really interesting to me because it shows that students can somewhat categorize things into general groups with out much instruction. I also think that it is important for us to place new items into these already existing structures so that we might eventually understand the difference and push the information towards accomodation.
4. It is amazing to me at how many different "folders" or schemes the human brain must have. There aren't very many computers out there that can automatically evaluate, restructure, and create new groups in order to fit all of the new information into system correctly.

Science Activity Plan

Tours that I watched

1. Terrains -http://laurencr.blogspot.com/
2. Ecosystems- http://katherinekerript287.blogspot.com/
3.Comparing Communities http://laurynblog56.blogspot.com/

This is My link to my tour:

http://techbretteled.pbworks.com/f/Utah%27s%20different%20Terrain%20.kmz

Google Earth Virtual Tour

I think that there are a lot of great things about Google tours as well as some downfalls. I think that it is such a great idea to give students a better background knowledge and understanding of placed that otherwise they normally wouldn't get to go.

However, it was pretty complicated and difficult to deal with and I can see it getting pretty frustrating in the classroom.

Science Activity Plan

1) Content- Science Core 3rd grade Standard 2 Objective 1C "Classify living and nonliving things in an environment."
2) Pedagogy- Using an aquarium, identify which objects are living and which are nonliving. The aquarium could include plants, rocks, fish, and water. It is a good fit with the content because it clearly demonstrates the difference between living and nonliving things.
3) Technology- Use an electronic microscope to have students collect living and nonliving objects from outside and observe them in a microscope. This fits well with the content and pedagogy because it helps students observe more closely the characteristics of living and nonliving things.

Modules 20, 21

1. A cooperative learning I remember from elementary is working on a science project where we had to build a bridge. After a couple days we then had a competition in the class to see who's bridge could hold the most weight.
In university I remember working on a research project in my Bio 100 class.
2. I believe the cooperative learning can enhance learning as long as ALL five elements are properly functioning. I think it is so important for students to help each other but if one student is doing the entire project both parties fail.
3. The similarities between reciprocal questioning and instructional conversations is that they are both working towards the same goal, comprehension or explanation of ideas. They are different in that IC believes in conversations because each student has something important to say while reciprocal questioning is use questions to provide explanations.
4. Ability grouping would be important to implament into the classroom with guided reading. It is important that each student in the group is at the same level so they can read an appropriate book. A mixed-grouping would be more appropriate in science projects where it would be important to have a variety of learners so that they can help each other out. The effective learners can help the stuggling learners.

Modules 11, 13,14

1. The two instructional strategies that I believe would be very important in the classroom would be understanding the best ways in which children learn as well as finding ways of helping students solidify them in their long term memory.
2.Low-road transfer involves the spontaneous, automatic transfer of highly practiced skills, with little need for reflective thinking.This results for extensive practice of a skill in a variety of contexts until it becomes flexible and developed to automatically. I think that an example of this would be if a student can learn behavioral skills in the class (raising hands, taking turns,) that transfers to their everyday lives.
High-road transfer is when a person purposely and consciously applies general knowledge, a strategy, or a principle learned in one situation to another situation, it is defined by mindful abstraction. I think that an example of this would be in math classes when they use previous knowledge to help them with a more advanced problem they are working on.
3. I believe that high-road is used more because teachers that I have observed tried to intertwine lessons. They used what they were using in social studies to help with their art project or science project. This allows students to draw on their previous knowledge to create further knowledge.
4. I have used both heuristic and algorithms when solving problems in math class. There are some questions that you know an algorithm that allow you to get to the answer faster but there are some problem solving questions in math classes that cause you to reflect on previous knowledge and just common sense to complete.

Google Earth Virtual Tour

Location	Activity Description	Google Earth Content
1. Arches National Park	View three photo's of the Arches	Panorama and Terrain layer is on
2.Utah Lake	View the size of the lake in comparison to a football field	Use Ruler layer
3.Uinta National Park	View the pictures of the forest and see if you can recall the two types of trees shown in this picture.	Panorama layer on
4.Pine Valley Forest	By using the pictures in the panorama view each student is going to view the two different types of environments present at this location.	Panorama, terrain and Weather layer on

This is for Grade 4 science Standard 5 Objective 1C "Locate examples of areas that have characteristics of wetlands, forests, or deserts in Utah."

I decided to do my virtual tour on this standard because I know that I learn with visuals better than any other way. I also felt that literally showing students that these three environments all exist in this state is a pretty rare and incredible thing. It also allows students to better understand the terminology because of the hands on visuals.

Digital Storytelling Project

I think that the hardest thing about doing something like this in my classroom would be being accessible for all of the kids. I think that there would be alot of questions and there is a lot to teach and unless the kids are paying close attention at every moment they could quickly get lost.

These are the story's that I watched and commented on:

1) Abraham Lincoln- http://kyliemm.blogspot.com/
2) Sylvester meets Little Red Riding Hood- http://mariahteaches.blogspot.com/
3) Body Language- http://laurynblog56.blogspot.com/
4) A Children's ABC Book- http://rkalilimoku.blogspot.com/
5) Goin' Fishin- http://carolhoffer.blogspot.com/
6) I wonder why Dad is so Thoroughly Mad. http://laurencr.blogspot.com/

Time Out Video

IP&T 301 Teaching Reflection

When creating a lesson it is much easier to sit down, make a PowerPoint presentation and stand in front of the class and begin reading the PowerPoint word for word. But what’s the point because no one remembers what you said anyways. That is why Kerry and I decided that we needed to implement different teaching strategies into our lesson.
We decided that we needed something at the very beginning of class to grasp the student’s attention. We gave them a test in which not only grasped there attention at the beginning but also allowed us to use as a teaching tool later on in our lesson. Because they had just taken a test we then took their scores and used them to teach concepts and terms to each of them. I believed that this increases what the student learns because it gives them hands on experience using a test they have taken.
Another principle of teaching that is important is keeping the student involved and active in the lesson. This allows the students to conceptualize and almost teach themselves the information, which allows them to comprehend the information. To do this we allowed the students to create and present skits teaching the class of different styles of tests.
I would say that the strengths of our presentation is that the students were able to interact and be involved in the lesson. I also really like our assessment because it allowed the teacher to evaluate what the students had learned but wasn’t overly time consuming. It was also more fun for the students than a paper and pencil test.
I thought our weaknesses were that by giving them a test at the beginning can sometimes give them a negative feeling toward the lesson before it even starts, depending on the students feelings towards tests. Another weakness, I felt, was the over use of our PowerPoint presentation.
If I were to give this lesson again I would print off more diagnostic tests that the students could view and take home with them. I would also ask a lot more questions and had the students be more involved in the teaching process through effective questioning.

IP&T 301 Week 4 Modules 4 and 22

1. The four ways in which I would create emotional intelligence in my classroom I would have a block set aside in which for about 15 minutes a week I could talk about emotions. As a class we would talk about different aspects of emotions and discuss what is the appropriate way to react in certain situations.
I would also make a mental note to treat my students and react to my students in an appropriate way in which I would want them to mimic my behavior. This allows each student to have a role model in their life in which they can see healthy ways to handle behaviors.
I would have an area on one of my walls showing different emotions and some ideas of what be causing a student to feel this way. Next to it I would also have solutions to helping and coping with these emotions.
The last thing I would do is make sure that children know exactly which emotions are appropriate for my classroom. This allows them to show restraint as they know certain behaviors or emotions are not welcome in the classroom.

2. I would have to say either linguistic or intrapersonal because I feel that if we can teach students to be in control of themselves and than be able to effectively communicate their ideas or feelings we are going to have an environment that allows learning to thrive.

3. I personal don't really believe in IQ testing. I think that through simple classroom testing and observations of the student you are able to determine what type of student they are going to be. I definitely don't think that you should use an IQ test to categorize students.

TPACK allows you to create a good learning environment in your classroom. It uses technology content, and pedagogy that allows students to learn effectively. We can see that each area is equally important because a teacher can not teach with out having the content knowledge themselves. The pedagogy is important because even if you have the content knowledge but don't know how to organize or present it you are still suffering as a teacher. Technology is another aspect that allows you to enhance and enrich your classroom environment. If a teacher has good content knowledge aswell as a good pedagogy can allow for an highly effective learning environment. Having technology in a classroom eliminates some busy work and can allow things to be more to the point.

Week 3 IP&T 301

1. An example of a formative assessment would be worksheets, mini quizzes, or other assignments that tests weather student is learning the information that they are learning. A summative assessment would be more like a unit test, which would be used to assess the accumulative knowledge in which a student has learned. I believe that a formative could later be used as a summative because one is just used as a teaching tool while the other assess knowledge.
2. A standardized aptitude test is used to predict what a child is capable of doing while an achievement test is used to see what a child already knows. I believe that an aptitude test is norm-referenced because you are comparing student’s abilities to other students. An achievement test would be criterion-referenced because they are used to see how well your students comprehending and learning compared to other classroom or divisions. But I do believe they can be both norm and criterion.
3. I think that she should be concerned because even if it was just a little bit lower its still lower. I think that they should send out an e-mail asking how they can do better and get new teaching suggestions even if they are at the top of the charts because that way there is always progress. (if your not progressing you are digressing.
4. I think that the information that will effect my teaching the most is how to interpret tests and how to take the information from a test and use it to understand how a child is really doing. I will also use the knowledge that I gained by reading these chapters as a parent because it will be nice to know how tests compare so I can see how my child is doing compared to others and standards.

Week 2

Week 2

I think that the most crucial thing that I learned this week is how to embed stuff onto a website. I also find the google calendar and documents really neat. The google document will also come in handy when working on group projects.

Synchronous Video

This is a picture of Brooke and I having a googlevideo conversation :)

Asynchronous Video- Facebook

This is a Picture of me leaving a video message on someones facebook:)

IP&T 301 Week 1 Modules 27 & 28

IP&T 301
Brett Nelson
Kerry Seibold

1. Blooms taxonomy is a categorization of six learning objective which includes lower-level objects and higher-level objective. The lower level objectives are Knowledge, comprehension, and application. The higher Level objectives are analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. We agree that not all of these objectives need to be used as long as the assessment and activities correspond with the lessons and state standards.

2. Validity is the degree to which a test measures what it is intended to measure where reliability is the consistency of test results. We agree that they are both major characteristics because tests need to cover and evaluate the material in which you are trying to test. It is important when determining the reliability of tests to consider the time allotted to take the tests.

3. Most process assessment leads to product assessment. Process assessment would be how students put together a chemical solution through different process. A product assessment would be to have the students write up a report about chemical solution.

4. Three ways to evaluation performance assessment is checklists which is a quick and easy way to assess, rating scales is a way to attach a number to the quality of performance, and rubrics are used to assess multiple criteria for example an essay.

5. Elementary Teachers need to be careful of bias because everything that they are grading material that is not black and white when it comes to right or wrong. There are many things in which a teacher can do to make sure that they are evaluating each student fairly on their projects that they are completing.

My Technology Experience

My technology experience was when we got a computer for Christmas one year and my mom picked up the mouse by the cord and said, "what is this for?"
~ This story about sums up how much my family and I know about technology

As for my technology experience most of what I have learned on computers if from doing homework assignments from classes or communicating with my friends. I have was raised using a PC but as my school division converted to mac's so did my family. (my dad and all my brothers are teachers in my school division.)

My dad is head of technology for the school division now so he is really persistent that I learn technologies that allow me to benefit my classroom but as of right now I basically just know how to communicate, write papers, create powerpoints, and search for stuff on the web. I can't wait to learn more:)