Technology Education

My Smartboard application review is Match The Computer Parts.

This lesson was designed to work with 4th-6th graders. Students are able to match computer components like the CPU and processor along with removable storage like a CD-ROM and floppy disk. I found the last page in the group of activities to be the most helpful. The students are able to match the pictures of the components with the process the components performs.

Making a class lesson interactive is a good way to communicate with a classroom. I only found a few technology lessons in the smart created library. I am new to smart board and I’m absolutely impressed with the functions available.

The article “Teens, Video games and Civics” and  “Escape from Planet Jar-Gon” by Prensky, M, lays out other ways of learning. Gamers have a lot to gain when using video games whether or not it was intended for education or a just a teen playing his favorite army game for his own entertainment. A person playing online with a group of players linked together gets to experience socialization skills, strategies, a new goal to meet and achievement. These are all brain exercises that will have a positive outcome on the learner. Education games are another way of teaching a lesson or a way of motivating a learner. Statistics show that children love video games, therefor the assignment will be a video game. Kids learn and have fun at the same time. As long as the child is motivated then the child is more likely to learn. These methods will work as long as the player knows how to play. If the learner doesn’t play the game correctly then he will not be prompt to adapt to the learning technique.

As a free time lesson used in my technology class, I allow my students to visit www.freerice.com, the students are able to choose a subject they might need help in. Students answer questions related to their subject, the more questions answered correctly the more rice is donated to people in need of food. Students compete to see who gets the most grains of rice. At the end the students get to walk out of technology class knowing a good deed has been done.

ANTI TOBACCO MINI LESSON

Wiki and webquest both have advantages to offer. A webquest can be compared to a classrooms blackboard where a teacher can put up assignments and get feedback. A wiki is similar to the students in the classroom working on the same project. “adding information to a database”.

I think a wiki would work best when used on a middle school or higher level classes. Any group of students working on the same assignments that needs to be updated and changed can do so with wiki. The user can go to the site choose the edit option, and start editing where the last person left off. A huge gain that wiki has to offer is the ability for students around the world to work on the same document.

A webquest is similar to a school website but dedicated to a classroom. The instructor makes the webquest using project based curriculum. The webquest can be a simple or a creative site designed to make the assignment more interesting or available to the students. The creative design would work best with elementary school students. A simple design can include step by step instructions and links to different website for resource, articles and multimedia files. The student can access the information needed to complete the assignment. Webquest allow feedback from the student to the teacher and work as a 2-way communication tool.

I feel that a webquest would be more useful in my classroom than wiki. My technology class can have new assignments posted on their computers as soon as they open up their browsers. Students can check in on their assignments via computer rather then opening up a notebook or textbook. Teacher adds a project to a webquest and the student follows directions. I think this tool will work well if used in my classroom.

students around the world.

My open source app is Photo Gimp available for download @ http://www.gimp.org/ , I was recently searching for an art application that I can use with a group of middle school students. I am familiar with adobe photoshop, but the software is too expensive. Gimp has an adobe like interface and is available FREE of charge.

The Software would be good for students who are familiar with the paint software preloaded on Microsoft’s operating system and are ready to move on with an more advanced software. Tools available with Gimp are photo enhancements, digital retouching, hardware support, and a large selection of formats to save as.

I would rate this application 9 out of 10. Gimp is a simple to use application with advanced photo editing tools. I am looking forward to introducing Gimp to my group of middle school students. Professional photo editing can be done for free. I recommend that everyone takes advantage of this software

The Article Personal Learning Environments by Andre Malan, shows educators the gaps that need to be filled with the way   teachers use teaching techniques. A personal Learning Environment was originally developed for educators to get through to the students learning needs. Andre Malan explains that changes need to be made in our educational system.

I agree with Andre Malan, but doubt that Personal Learning Environments will work with everyone. If the topic is interesting to the student then yes the student will learn. At the same time, the student has to want to learn. Not every student finds the same topics interesting, therefor I feel that this way of learning will still not be 100% successful for 100% of students.

A student that is willing to learn and finds the curriculum interesting will most likely benefit from a Personal Learning Environment.

Webquest is a successful way for teachers to engage students to understand and work on a certain topic. Teachers can get through to students by helping them understand knowledge more clearly, make assignments interesting. Students will more likely gain knowledge. With the help of technology thinking skills can be adapted.

A positive outcome from webquest will require the educator to consume time and technology skills. The Curriculum must also be clear and interaction with various media formats like videos, music, podcasts, articles, blogs, and forums will make the webquest project more interesting and engage students to get the job done with a full understanding of the topic.

Students will be able to understand the effects tobacco has on the human body and share their thoughts with the help of media and web design.

This assignment is intended for 9th grade high school students.

Task 1. Students will watch a short film on tobacco developed by discoveryeduction.com  followed by short multiple choice questions.

Task 2. Students will answer a survey dealing with tobacco and adolescent use.

Task 3. Students will make an anti tobacco ad with either graphic or video tools. The multimedia can include examples of what health issues are important and how tobacco can affect these health issues.

Task 4. Students will combined all videos and graphics, using windows movie maker. Final video must include facts on tobacco, some of the 4,000 different ingredients found in tobacco, statistics about adolescents and the use of tobacco, various forms of tobacco and ways of quitting.

After reading the blog, I immediately downloaded the add on offered by Foxmarks. Foxmarks add on along with Firefox makes my job much easier. I sometimes do work on the go and have my laptop along with me. I also own a desktop and now can share my bookmarks saved on both computers with the help of Synchronizing. Big Businesses that use numerous computers and work with random websites along with educators, and students can get a lot of benifits out of Foxmarks.

http://teachclever.com/2008/07/13/synchronize-just-the-bookmarks-you-want-to-with-sync-profiles/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+teachclever+%28TeachClever%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

Blogging is a powerful link that gives educators the ability to communicate with each other and their students as well. We can now further our resources with others and get feedback, no matter what the topic relates to.

A classroom that requires blogging gives the students a new communication skill. Blogging makes communication easier and allows students to the ability to talk about any topic at anytime. The use of blogging gives our students encouragement to write and master their keyboarding skills. Blogging removes the gap between the limited time a teacher has with his/her students.

As our educational system is always updating, two teachers can share new information that would of taken years to migrate over. Educational websites, textbook information, new curriculum or just a new way to teach a certain subject or topic, can be shared through a blog.

Blogging give our teachers and students new advantages. Why should a school district be limited to this communication tool.  Blogging is a free way to gain knowledge, available to anyone with internet access.