Module 5 Reading Response

After reading the article "5 Considerations for Digital Age Leaders" by Lotta Larson, Teresa Miller, and Mike Ribble, I find myself agreeing with a lot of what the article talks about. I feel that in order for teachers to be successful in using technology in their classroom they need to be both properly trained but also have enough support to implement. Teachers need to be properly trained on not just what the technology is but how they can easily add it into their teaching. Just like the article stated teachers already have enough on their plate, so if they are to integrate technology they need to see exactly how it will benefit them and why they should use it. I know that I am shown new technology to use in my classroom but I have a hard time implementing it because I do not have the time to play with it. If an administrator or other technology specialist could show  me and immediate benefit of using that technology then I would be more apt to use it. I also agree with the article in that teachers struggle to keep up with technology because it is constantly changing. Students thrive on the newest and latest gadget and software whereas most teachers are trying to become proficient in the technology and then something new comes out and we struggle to keep up with the changing times. Integrating technology into a classroom is something that the district, campus, administration, and all teachers must commit to in order to become successful teachers of the 21st century learner.

Module 4 Reading Response

After reading the article "Social Networking Goes to School" it really gave me a lot to think about. I teach high school students and I know that most of them have twitter and facebook, so it would make sense for me to use it. However just like the article mentioned, you have to be careful to seperate work and personal lives and not get involved. I know that I have a facebook account and my students are told that they cannot friend me until they graduate. Just like the article mentions teachers can instead create blogs and wall wishes that would do the same thing but under the control of the teacher.

I like the idea of using twitter for professional development purposes especially because I collaborate with my fellow teachers all the time. I ask them for advice on how to teach different things and how to handle a students if I do not know how to, or if I want a second opinion. I welcome the thought of using twitter, and think that it may be something for me to get involved in. I have thought about creating a twitter account and letting my students follow me and I could use it to remind them of important dates, but just like the article mentioned you have to get that approved by principals, and I would just rather not deal with that hassel.

Overall, I thought it was a good article and one that a lot of educators should read that way we can see how beneficial it is to use technology that most people are already using.

Module 3 Reading Response

I really enjoyed reading the article called "Fostering Creativity and Innovation Through Technology" because I thinkt it had a lot of valuable points to make. I like the idea of getting kids involved and interested in learning as soon as possible. The earlier students become fans of learning it will make their high school years easier because they will not be turned off of school. I also like anything that gets students excited about learning to the point that they take their work and then finish it at home because as a high school teacher, I know a lot of students do not do that. I also like that the students can see how doing this like creating video games relates back to math and science.

Students need to understand how important these STEM classes are and how important it is to get involved in these classes at an early age. My only issue with the article is that yes a lot of the software may be free however getting a lot of computer labs in high school is difficult. I like to use the computer labs for lab experiments in my Physics class. I have to schedule them almost two months in advance and then only get them for a day and it makes it difficult because I have to pressure them to finish the lab in one day.Which if a school can get money from outside support, good for them, but in my school district I know that it is difficult to get that. Overall, I think that it is a very good article because it focuses on the need to get students excited about STEM classes at an early age and once they are interetsed in those courses then we have to keep that interest in order to create more advances in those fields.

Module 2 Reading Response

I really like the idea of using the QR Reader in the classroom. I have students that are absent and then they can scan the code and the have instant access to the assignment. You could also post answer documents so that way when students are working on assignments they could scan the reader and get instant help. I believe that students would also like to use it because they are using the reader so why not use something they are familiar with. The QR Reader would also be a great tool to use for instant access to websites in class because insteead of having everyone type in the website and worry about incorrect spelling or finding the wrong one, just have them scan the reader. It would eliminate the issue at my school where we do not have enough computer labs for everyone because we could access the simulations on their phones. Another great use of it would be at open house because they could gain instant access to the class's website and all of the teacher's information.

Another article I read was the on the level of Bloom's Taxonomy. One of the things I like about the article was the emphasis that it put on the verbs or behavior. And it focuses on the different dimensions of knowledge which is something the new tests in Texas are focusing on. As we are analyzing the verbs when we are writing all of our assessments and worksheets, we  have to do the same thing with our everyday teaching. Teachers need to focus on how students are learning not just what they are learning. By focusing more on how and on what level students are learning at you can go more in depth on the material and really see how much the students are learning and can they store it, apply it, and create something with it.

Module 1 Reading Response

After reading the articles on NETs and P21, I have learned about how important technology is and that teachers need to work hard to incorporate as much technology as possible into their teaching. As we move toward a more technological advanced society we need to try to incorporate the NET's into our every day teaching. The biggest issue with the NET's is that they are very detailed and need a lot of money to be able to get all of the students in every school to have access to that kind of technology. I think that the NET's need to be reworked a little bit in order for all schools to be able to meet them with their limited technology.

One of the benefits of integrating technology into the classroom and NET's is that students are able to be more creative. Students can take their content and present it in a variety of ways that would allow students to expressive themselves and their knowledge. By using these different techniques students are not limited to traditional assessment methods that some students struggle with. It also allows for teachers to be creative with their instruction in order to reach the students better. I personally try to incorporate technology into my teaching because I know that students get bored if you do the same thing everyday so I like to use technology to keep my students interested in my class engaged in the lesson.

Smart Exchange Activity

Physical Science EOC Review
10th Grade - Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics)
With this activity it would be a great way to review my students for state testing. By using this SMART technology it is a creative and engaging way to review my students on lots of material. With the animations that are built in would also be a good way to review any material that my students are struggling with.

Heat Exchange Review
10th Grade - Physical Science (Chemistry and Physics)
By using this activity my students could get a very good review of heat transfer. In this activity I could use CPS response systems or whiteboards and have the students answer all of hte questions. It would be a great thing to use as a review for a test or as an exit ticket to make sure my students understand the material before moving on to the next topic.


Momentum and Collisions
10th Grade Physics
In this activity students would learn fundamental concepts of momentum of impulse. This activity allows for students to see how see how the two concepts are related. The pacing of the activity is very good as it goes from notes and explanations, to problems, and then finally a wrap slide over material presented. I would advise teachers to use this activity because momentum and impulse are topics that students often confuse.