Blog Post 3

Blog Post 3

In class today, we learned how to more effectively use search engines (primarily google), while also discussing credible and non-credible sources (and how to located credible sources efficiently).  We discovered different forms of google, such as google gravity and google sphere (see picture below).  While these google variations are visually entertaining, they seem to be an ineffective way to conduct efficient research.

For high school students, I would like to integrate technology software/ applications such as video conferencing, advanced search engines, academic portals, and weblogs.  In teaching and utilizing these softwares, my students will learn the importance of academic honesty, how to respect copyright, and many other necessary skills when dealing with online information.  

In the newsletter assignment, through trial and error, I discovered aesthetic ways of giving academic information aimed at parents.  I appreciated this assignment because of its practical nature.  If I become a teacher one day, creating a newsletter is certainly something I'll have to do.  The design aspect of this project was surprisingly more difficult than I would have expected. 

Blog Post 2

Throughout grade school, middle school, and high school I used MS Word.  All seven schools that I’ve been to had PC computers, therefore making our use of Word frequent (as opposed to Mac Pages).  

My most direct use of Word in elementary and middle school was when my class visited the computer lab and when I had a typing class (2^nd grade; 8^th grade).  In high school, my use of Word became much more frequent.  All of my teachers used Word in some way, whether in making tests, teaching through computer projection, creating worksheets, etc.  As a future teacher, I hope to take advantage of online lesson planning communities (such as “Think, Educate, Share” and “Share my Lesson”), especially in my first years of teaching.  Prior to reading chapter one, I had no idea that there were thousands of standards-correlated lesson plans available online in every content area for every grade level.       

  

In high school, my teachers always included a "sources" page in their lessons and we as students were always required to include a "works cited" page to comply with copyright/ fair use.  Plagiarism was (and still is) a big deal.  When I am a teacher, I will make sure my students will be equally cautious to avoid plagiarism by teaching them the basics of copyright, fair use, how to give credit, etc.  Use of Twitter can be a great teaching asset as it creates quick communication, requires some level of creativity, and is fun and engaging for students.