Introduction
Hey Guys! My name is Devyn Guse and I love science, so naturally the licensure I am pursing is Life Science Education.
By the end of this course I want to be more comfortable using a smart board in front of my AVID students. I would also like to learn how to create a website! The AVID teacher where I work has her own website and posts useful links/videos/activities for her students. As technology keeps growing it is very important for teachers to keep up with what students are using online.
This course will help me to be a better teacher by showing me how to use and be comfortable with technology. Most students use technology in some form every day and it’s important to meet student interests.
The first day of every course I always think about how hard the final project will be, so naturally I am nervous for that, but as the class continues I'm sure I will consider it something fun and unique.
By the end of this course I want to be more comfortable using a smart board in front of my AVID students. I would also like to learn how to create a website! The AVID teacher where I work has her own website and posts useful links/videos/activities for her students. As technology keeps growing it is very important for teachers to keep up with what students are using online.
This course will help me to be a better teacher by showing me how to use and be comfortable with technology. Most students use technology in some form every day and it’s important to meet student interests.
The first day of every course I always think about how hard the final project will be, so naturally I am nervous for that, but as the class continues I'm sure I will consider it something fun and unique.
TPACK
Teachers must understand three types of knowledge. First is content knowledge. This is what teachers know about the subject they are teaching. Second is Pedagogical knowledge. This refers to a teacher’s knowledge about teaching. Third is Technological knowledge. This could include how to use Microsoft Excel and Power Point, smart boards, projectors, student participation systems with clickers, smartphones, IPads and a variety of other technological tools.
To teach 21st century learners and skills, teachers must have all three types of knowledge. They must find interesting ways to tie technology and their subject together. Last semester I was in a high school science classroom, the teacher had a twitter so his students get updated on when tests would be, when their grades would be ready and what to expect the next day. He also had them take quizzes on their smart phones so they could have them immediately graded. This gave him time to grade the paper copies in class as there was not that many. Students loved this because they got use their technology skills in class.
Being able to use various types of technology in the classroom means you must not only know how to use it, but also be able to explain it to your students. Students are very hands on learners and love anything technology related. 21st century students grew up with technology and spend hours using it every day. By incorporating it into our classrooms we are facilitating student learning and giving them multiple ways to control their learning.
To teach 21st century learners and skills, teachers must have all three types of knowledge. They must find interesting ways to tie technology and their subject together. Last semester I was in a high school science classroom, the teacher had a twitter so his students get updated on when tests would be, when their grades would be ready and what to expect the next day. He also had them take quizzes on their smart phones so they could have them immediately graded. This gave him time to grade the paper copies in class as there was not that many. Students loved this because they got use their technology skills in class.
Being able to use various types of technology in the classroom means you must not only know how to use it, but also be able to explain it to your students. Students are very hands on learners and love anything technology related. 21st century students grew up with technology and spend hours using it every day. By incorporating it into our classrooms we are facilitating student learning and giving them multiple ways to control their learning.
Technology and Student Engagement
Students use technology every day and it is a huge part of their lives. By not using technology in our classrooms we are disengaging our students. But by incorporating technology into our lesson plans and by giving students the opportunity to create, listen, and share what they learned/created with others, learning can be fun. This allows us to meet students on their interest level. Giving students choices is very important and technology lets us do more than the same old lecture and note taking. By using technology we can improve student learning and their lives.
Learning
Learning is the process by which people gain new information and knowledge. There are many different theories of learning. Behaviorism says that people learn from memorizing, imitating, and demonstrating. Cognitivism is influenced by internal processes like memory, perception, motivation and metacognitive skills. Constructivism is based on the belief that every person sees and interprets the world in the own way. Constructivism stresses that students build upon their previous knowledge. As we can see there are several theories on how people learn. Teachers need to be able to keep these theories in mind when making lesson plans. They need to be able to bring many different activities into the classroom to cater to the various learning styles of students.
Perspectives
I think a behaviorist may choose assignments that incorporate memorization and demonstration. These could include a multiple choice and short answer test (memorization), or an actual demonstration of a process. One such demonstration could be showing and explaining how cells divide using models. Cognitive psychologists may choose assessments that incorporate active learning, comprehension, and metacognitive skills. This could include allowing students to direct their own learning based on their own learning style (active learning, metacognition) or understanding the importance of the material (comprehension), no just memorizing facts.
Databases
Teaching students to properly use the internet is a very important part about being a 21st century teacher. Students are exposed to technology on a daily basis and a good foundation in how to use it correctly and efficiently is a must. Teacher could have students do a self-inquiry on the web and explain how search engines actually work, and how to find relevant results. This mini lesson could include what plagiarism is and why it is bad.
Science is a great subject to teach as a 21st century teacher! There are so many opportunities to incorporate technology, computers and the internet into lessons. The internet can be used as a resource for students when they do a research presentation/paper/ etc. It can also be used for virtual field trips, experiments, interactive websites, and science related videos. I teacher I observed used clips of Myth Busters to help his students understand physics concepts in real life. This engaged the students (and me) and got them interested in a complicated subject!
Science is a great subject to teach as a 21st century teacher! There are so many opportunities to incorporate technology, computers and the internet into lessons. The internet can be used as a resource for students when they do a research presentation/paper/ etc. It can also be used for virtual field trips, experiments, interactive websites, and science related videos. I teacher I observed used clips of Myth Busters to help his students understand physics concepts in real life. This engaged the students (and me) and got them interested in a complicated subject!
Social, Ethical and Legal Prevention Strategies
Teachers need to place an emphasis on digital ethics, copyright, fair use and plagiarism in their classrooms. There should be lessons or in-depth explanations devoted to each of these so students understand the importance of them. Teaching students how to cite their sources properly can also help to prevent plagiarism. Asking students to analyze material, instead of just finding information on the web, deters plagiarism, as it is harder to copy another person’s work. We need to make an active effort to make sure 21st century learners are responsible and ethical online.
Podcasts and Vodcasts
Podcasts and vodcasts can be excellent classroom and learning tools for students. I remember countless times in school where I struggled with homework and not being able to understand my notes. Because of this I have always been interested in flipping the classroom to better benefit students. Podcasts and vodcasts can be used as the lecture/lesson that students view at home. This allows time at school for activities, homework, labs, questions etc. Podcasts and vodcasts are tools that I would like to learn how to use! They could be a great asset in any classroom.
Social Media
I have been in classrooms where teachers have used social media and other digital communication. The students in the classroom were all over being able to use their phones in class. This particular teacher used twitter to remind students of assignments, due dates, and remind them of important events. I have also seen a teacher have their own website that allowed students and parents to view the state standards that the class addresses, get to know the teacher better, and find links to homework and resources. Although I have not seen the use of blogs, or online discussions in middle school or high school classrooms, I can see how these would greatly benefit students. Blogs and online discussions allow for students and teachers to comment on posts and add their own flare to the conversation. Students are able to think about a response before posting, where as in a classroom the discussion can move too fast to form a thoughtful relevant response. Online discussions also allow every student to contribute to the conversation.