Web 2.0

Two of my favorite Web 2.0 sites include Facebook and Flickr. Facebook is a great way to interact with others, both past and present, in a fun way. You are able to create events, share pictures, and discuss various topics with friends from all over the country. In addition, I enjoy using Flickr. It is a great way to share and print picture online. It is easy to create slide shows and share them with anyone.Flickr can also be used to post classroom pictures of activities and experiments. Students can create their own slide shows of fun activities done in the class.

Multimedia

One example of multimedia I would use in my classroom would be instructional software. One instructional software that I enjoy using in my classroom is VMath Live. Students are able to play others across the world. They are drilled using addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division problems. I use this program as a reward at the end of a lesson.  Furthermore, stated in my previous blog, I enjoy using Successmaker in the classroom. Students are drilled using instructional games and activities on math and reading problems. In addition to instructional software, I would use interactive books in my classroom. Books are not read just once during a lesson, but two or three times. The first time reading a story, I would use the hard back copy of the book. Then I would use the interactive software that came with the book to read it again, and provide additional resources for the students. Both types of multimedia software improve the student’s skills in reading and math.

Instructional Software

One type of software I would use in my classroom would be drill and practice. The drill and practice types of software provide immediate feedback for the students as they work through the problems. In addition, this feedback is quick and to the point.  A good drill and practice software would be Success Maker. The student can use Success Maker for state testing practice, and overall skill maintenance. In addition, Success Maker has sessions that are about 15 minutes long and are individualized to each student. The software recognizes patterns in the student’s answers and knows what level of information the students needs to be presented with. This software is a great way to save teachers time throughout the day and it is definitely motivating to students.

In addition to drill and practice software, I would most definitely use simulation software in my classroom. The students get more involved in their learning and they are better able to understand what it is they are doing. These programs give the students the resources to create, explore and learn on their own. The teachers save money by using this software instead of going out and buying resources for every child. Students can complete activities on this software as a group, or individually. I would most likely use some type of science simulation software for the students to dissect and experiment with things we cannot do in the classroom. A lot of great software can be found at www.educationalsimulations.com.

 Lastly, I would use instructional games as a reward in my classroom. I like to use games on Brain Pop, Spelling City, and AAA Math. All students can get involved in the instructional games and all content areas can be addressed in various activities. These games are fun for the students. They are learning, and they don’t even know it. Overall, any type of software could be used in the classroom, it just depends on the types of learners in each class and how the teacher integrates the software.

Shaping Technology in Education

    Two issues that shape the role of technology in education today are anti-technology positions and the reliance on the internet and distant education. Many people in today's society feel that technology should not be used in education or at all. They fell technology interferes with privacy, complicates daily life, and could potential be health hazardous. Therefore, they feel that the benefits of technology on education have not be proven. People against technology in education think it is not as important as other activities. However, all the technology that I have used in my classroom have been engaging, interactive, and more motivating than other activities. Reliance on the internet and distant education could greatly effect the use of technologies. More and more online or virtual classes are being offered to students. If students learn how to use technologies at a younger age, they may be more highly qualified for professions in their future. In addition, more classes could be offered online to students. However, learning one-on-one is thought to be more impacting than online learning.
     One issues that we have learned from the history of technology and continues to remain a problem is the teachers usually do not develop materials or curriculum with technology. There are so many things that teachers have to do every day, that adding something else is overwhelming for some teachers. Therefore, they do not use technologies in their lessons. In addition, there is a lot of training required for software and technologies that teachers do not have time to do. If there was a better way to integrate technologies into the classroom, I am sure teachers would use it more often.

Introduction

Hi, my name is Jocelyn and I live in Dalton, Georgia. I just moved here in August from Greensburg, Pennsylvania to be with my boyfriend of 3 and 1/2 years. We just bought our first home and are very excited.

I graduated from Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania with a dual Bachelor's degree in Special Education/Elementary Education. I started my teaching career in Manassas, VA where my aunt and uncle live. This pasted August, when I moved to Georgia, I got a teaching job right over the border in Cleveland, TN, teaching Special Education.

I have recently decided to go back to school and get my Master's degree in Special Education. There is so much about students that teachers do not know, especially students with special needs. I feel, in order to educate my students the best that I can, I need to have a better understand of Special Education. Thus, my reasoning for obtaining my online Master's degree.

My favorite technology would be my Peormetheom Board in my classroom. It allows me to integrate technology into each lesson, every day. I can play educational games with the students, make graphs, and add the textbook stories to the board. The students are more engaged in each lesson and have fun learning. In addition, when doing centers in Reading or Math, I am able to use the board as a center that the students can use on their own. It gets the students excited about learning and fully engaged in their OWN education.

I look forward to furthering my education and gaining a better understanding of the students I teach each and every day!!