Teaching+With+Technology+5364

__Week 1 in Review- We begin the Journey__
This week started with a n  after thanksgiving,  rush to find a group. I felt a little like a kid waiting to be picked in GYM, but luckily,  I was picked in the first round, by a great set of students, whom I had worked with in the past. Misty took the lead in setting up a Google  doc, and set up a group WIKI  that we could begin  to exchange ideas and information about our project. I noted my experience with special needs students. Our group has laid the foundation  for collaboration, and we know each <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">other’s <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">strengths, so I am looking forward to next week when we begin to refine our broad range of ideas. I found the information in our readings very enlightening, I though well we already know about integrating <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">technology <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">, but these readings made me deepen my <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">thinking <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> about the topics we covered in Educational Technology. This refined our thinking from just integrating with technology to teaching with technology. I was <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; msoansilanguage: EN-USmso-bidi-language; msobidilanguage: AR-SA; msofareastfontfamily: SimSun; msofareastlanguage: ZH-CN;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; msoansilanguage: EN-USmso-bidi-language; msobidifontfamily: Arial; msobidilanguage: AR-SA; msofareastfontfamily: SimSun; msofareastlanguage: ZH-CN;">profoundly <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; msoansilanguage: EN-US; msobidilanguage: AR-SA; msofareastfontfamily: SimSun; msofareastlanguage: ZH-CN;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; msoansilanguage: EN-USmso-bidi-language; msobidifontfamily: Arial; msobidilanguage: AR-SA; msofareastfontfamily: SimSun; msofareastlanguage: ZH-CN;">fearfully <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> about the US status of being on top. As I posted in the discussion board, I <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">do not <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> see the drive in our students as mentioned in the readings. One peer made an <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">excellent <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> comment about how <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">the government drives some other countries <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> and how they <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">do not <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> try to educate everybody.

__Week 2 in Review- Happy Thanksgiving__
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; msoansilanguage: EN-USmso-bidi-language;">Week two was an investigation of web 2.0 tools and philosophies about how the integration of technology equalizes the playing field for low-income students, and varying learning styles. I currently use several of the web 2.0 tools. I have students blog about articles or class discussions, students have also used Wikis to work in groups, and one class has even created digital photo stories. I would like to tryout some of the other tools like social book marking, and Google docs. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; msoansilanguage: EN-USmso-bidi-language; msobidifontfamily: Arial; msobidilanguage: AR-SA; msofareastfontfamily: SimSun; msofareastlanguage: ZH-CN;">The group in our discussion board discussed using the technology as an equalizer and adjusting it to various students learning styles. David made a great point about technologyies role in leveling the playing field for students. Unlike Meredith, I have only worked in low-income areas, so I can certainly understand many of the points made by other members. In our group, we brainstormed about our group project still using Google docs. It was a tough week because of the holiday but Iwe made it through and we are ready for week 3.

__Week 3 in Review - New Technologies__
I really enjoyed our week three discussion board, be discussed several new technologies like podcast and testing using IPods, and shared our apprehensions, success examples. I learned a lot about new technologies like the UDL Book Builder. Creating learning for diverse learners is something we talk a lot about but this software makes it far easier than I thought. It was great to give students options, about their learning, and I thought the little characters that offered assistance was great. This UDL teaching model reminds me of the way the lessons are presented on Brain Pop.

Individually this week I had the opportunity to create a diverse learning tool for a lesson. I found the software very easy to use, and I believe it is something I can definitely integrate into my class website. I however would like to investigate more on using podcast, and other mediums as well. As a group, we have great ideas for the lesson, and everyone is working very well. Marisol is doing a good job of keeping everyone on track. I left my laptop at work by accident friday, so I did not have any access to the class until today, so I am glad that I got most of my work done earlier in the week.

Week 4 in Review - Professional Development an honest look
<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; msobidifontfamily: Arial; msobidifontsize: 12.0pt;">Last week the discussion board took the lead, this week it was a tie. The readings from "Web 2.0 new tools, new schools" was really good this week. Honestly, it was as if the authors really understood what many teachers have been saying for years about professional development. In summary the authors stated that a few hours spent with an “expert” who returns home at the end of the day does not influence the use of technology in the classroom. It also noted the kinds of training that teachers really need. I wish there was a polite way to send this chapter to my principle, because we really do not receive enough good training. I went to an Adobe training a few months ago, and I knew as much as the trainer. This riveting reading led to a lively discussion board this week with most of the discussion on what kinds of professional development we need, the lack of good training, and some venting on our past professional development horrors.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">Misty is still doing a great job of assigning task and keeping everyone going in the right directions. I am pleased with our progress on our project. **

__Week 5 in Review - OK Now I'm Inspired!__
This week I was impacted the most by the video content of our weekly resources. I do not know if it is because final exams just ended and I am feeling more reflective. I loved the demonstration of technology and a new way of teaching in “Vision for Technology in K-12 Education”. Although I wonder about the cost of purchasing such technology, I also wonder if we can afford not to. I found the video “Big Thinkers: James Paul Gee on Grading With Games” to be the most thought provoking video of the course. His explanations on how to engage students and change education from fact acquisition to problem solving was very inspiring. These things along with the information I leaned from the text for this course have definitely given me a much broader view of technology integration. I plan over the course of the next year to begin testing these technologies on various classes, and seek student and peer input. I hope that I can radically change the way I teach, and work smarter and more student centered than I have in the past. <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;">I must admit group work is never my favorite; I prefer to work individually, however this group went very smoothly. Everyone participated, and Misty did a great job of keeping everyone on the right track. She highlighted items that needed to be worked on and that was a huge benefit for me. I believe that we came up with a project that encompasses this course essence and had a great time these 5 weeks. Thanks.