"Digital Nation"

I think the biggest lesson I took away from PBS FrontLine's "Digital Nation" was the fact that students multitask more now than they ever have before.

One student in the video made the comment that he'll be eating dinner with a friend and when his Blackberry goes off, it's not a big deal that he answers it. I think as a person (not even inside the classroom) this is something that bothers me. When I'm trying to have a conversation with a friend but their not fully listening because their busy text messaging someone else, it's very annoying.

One teacher from MIT did make this comment, however: "(students) need to be stimulated in ways they didn't need to be stimulated before." I do believe that statement to be true in terms of the need to integrate technology into the classroom. When I was in elementary school we didn't have computers and were fine learning with a book, a piece of paper and a pencil. Today's students, however, use a computers daily, along with other forms of technology. They need to be stimulated in ways they understand: via technology.

Although I don't enjoy people text messaging while I'm trying to have a conversation with them, I would have to agree that students are better at multitasking in today's world than ever before. For example, if a student is in a class and thinks of a question they need to ask a coworker at work, they can send an instant e-mail. Although I understand multitasking in a college setting, I'm not sure how this would work in a middle school classroom (which is where I would want to teach).

Last few weeks of class...

In the last few weeks of class, I hope to learn about resources that can help me as a new teacher. I'm not currently working in the field so the things we've learned about what a GLE is and where to find them on the Department of Education Web site have helped tremendously.

I hope to learn about different resources such as where jobs are posted online and how to apply for them. Also any do's and don'ts when it comes to applications, like we briefly discussed in class last week.

Other ideas on things I hope to learn over the next three weeks include:

- Thoughts on being social networking "friends" with your students or kids you are coaching in a sport.

- Thoughts on how to communicate with students best such as having a classroom Web site or a site similar to blackboard.

- What to put in a printed/paper portfolio and what to bring to an interview

- How to get certified in other states like Massachusetts and where to find this information online

Overall, I've learned a bunch of great resources to use in different lesson plans. I hope to find a way to keep all the information together, so I can use it in the future. Any thoughts on how to keep these sites and information together, would be great.

The Half-Point Experience

We're about half way done with this term and I feel I've learned a lot of helpful information to use both inside and outside of the classroom. I wasn't sure what to expect on the first day of class. But along with learning ways to turn everyday pencil-and-paper assignments into technology-based classwork, I've also learned about lesson plans and other helpful tools: things I didn't know before since I'm not currently working in the educational field.

Before this class, I had no idea what a GLE was or how to interpret the oh-so-confusing NECAP scores. But at this point in the term, I already have a much better understanding of the "teaching language" and how to develop things like a rubric and a GLE tool list.

Tools I plan to use inside my classroom include Quizlet and Wordle. As a future middle school language arts teacher, Wordle can show my students what the true meaning is behind their essays and Quizlet can prepare them for a variety of tests and quizzes.

There are a few tools we learned that I have already used outside of this graduate class and outside of the educational field. Those would include: Google Doc's and iGoogle (which is currently my homepage on my computer). With my home computer being a Mac and my work computer being a PC, it's easy to create documents on Google Doc's so they are compatible with each other no matter what computer I'm on. There have been times I've thought I've saved documents correct, ending in .doc, but it won't open on a different computer. Google Doc's saves me the stress and worries, as I know it will open regardless of the program or computer I'm using.

The one thing I hope we can go over (or I can try to figure out) would be finding a way to keep the links and online handouts together so I can use them in my classroom one day. With this being my first term at SNHU, and graduation not happening until 2011, I don't want all the valuable tools, information and "goodie bag items" to just disappear.

Educational Technology Tool

Out of the three virtual tools we learned about in class, in regards to teaching a math-based lesson, I found MathPlayground.com to be the most user friendly.

I used MathPlayground.com when I created my GLE for my group document this week. I focused on Geometry and Measurement GLE M(G&M)2-9, which was asked that students "demonstrate an understanding of spatial relationships using location and position." On MathPlayground.com I found a virtual tool called a Geometry Board. In this hands-on activity, students explore geometric concepts of area and perimeter, while trying to find out how many shapes can you make with a perimeter of 16 units. The students drag a virtual rubber elastic around an online board filled with nails, to create different shapes.

I found that several virtual tools, like the Geometry Board, were similar to what I used when I doing hands-on math activities in grade school. The only difference is the rubber bands and the board with nails in it were real back then. They weren't on a computer screen. I think the biggest thing I've learned from exploring different online activities for the classroom, is that not only are you helping a student to learn through the way they know (virtual) but you are also saving your school district money but having them use computers (not buy nail boards and rubber bands) to show how many shapes can fit.