What I Have Learned...

Technology is being used everywhere and it is important for educators to be proficient in many aspects of technology in order to teach the following generation. I have learned several useful applications for technology throughout this course. Not only will these applications help in my personal life, but they will also be helpful in procuring a career in education and also in the actual classroom.

As an elementary school teacher I am sure I will be using Smartboard technology and Prezi in the classroom. These are two great tools for presenting and engaging the students in interactive activities. They make learning fun for students and easier for teachers! I also love Google Forms for quizzes and review. I love the automatic grading feature that allows teachers to spend less time grading and more time teaching and engaging students!

Technology in the classroom creates a more efficient classroom and allows students to learn more than ever before.

Collaboration and Communication

As teachers it is important for us to collaborate and communicate with fellow teachers, administration, students and parents. This is extremely important in most professions, but especially in the teaching profession. There are so many people to coordinate with for each student to be successful, and for us to be successful as teachers. It is important to collaborate with other teachers to learn and understand new strategies and techniques in teaching. We must also communicate clearly with students to be sure they understand us AND we understand them.

It is also important to encourage communication and collaboration among students. It is more likely that they will be inclined to work together and communicate if they see the adult role models in their lives communicating and exchanging ideas. It is important to give students group projects so that they can learn the dynamics of group work and understand how to work with and communicate with others to reach a certain goal. This skill is a necessary skill for students to have to be successful as they continue their education and enter the workforce.

Prezi Review

Prezi is a great tool for teachers to convey a message or messages to students in a way that is visually stimulating. I have reviewed several Prezi’s and would like to describe why I chose my top three.

#1 Adjectives

I chose this Prezi as #1 for several reasons. It is visually appealing. The colors are nice, and the font is fun and the size makes it easy to read. It provides pictures and charts to help the viewer understand the lesson. The presentation is not too long or wordy and it provides examples and descriptions of when to use adjectives.

#2 Mathamatweets

This Prezi provides videos and interesting information. This presentation is concise, not too wordy, and provides all the information in a visually stimulating format. It provides a compelling argument for the importance and uses for Twitter.

#3 Superbowl Trivia

I chose this Prezi as number three because I love football! I love the colors of this presentation and I like that it is not too wordy. It is an interesting way of using a Prezi as a quiz. I like that this Prezi provides pictures and interesting questions.

Flipped Classroom

I think the Flipped Classroom is a GREAT way to get the most out of the resources teachers have. This gives students access to the teacher when they need them! Todd's strategy is interesting and I think it is an improved model or interpretation of the Flipped Classroom trend. I think his strategy of keeping instructional videos to about six minutes is a great way to keep students engaged and convey the information without being repetitive. Because the videos are short, he can provide one example and the students can re-watch the video if they need clarification.

I would ask Todd what results he has gained from flipping his classroom. It is clearly a great strategy,  but I wonder if there was any dramatic increase in student grades.

After viewing this tutorial I would be more inclined to flip my classroom. I think it is an amazing strategy and I am so happy I learned about the Flipped Classroom today!

Gamification: Is It Just Another Fad?

Gamification is a fun and engaging way for people of all ages to acquire and retain new information. Learning through gaming is interactive, fun, and exciting and allows learners to learn without being bored. Isn't that the number one complaint of children about school? Reading and regurgitating information for tests will not helps students in the long-run. It will not encourage curiosity or excitement about learning.

Gamification is the perfect solution to this problem. Engage students in interactive learning that feels like something they would do for fun. Gamification also gives students immediate feedback on their progress and awards points for correct answers. Getting an immediate reward in the form of points or advancing to the next level is great for children who are learning a new topic. This reinforcement and encouragement also helps students to retain the information and be excited about learning.

To me, gamification is not a fad, it is a wonderful solution to the need for new and exciting ways of learning.

What's so great about YouTube?

YouTube is an excellent resource to share your videos with friends or anyone electronically. I have used YouTube to share videos as a yoga instructor. This allows me to record long videos and send them to friends and family. I have also used YouTube to curate all videos from my wedding into one place. I made information available to friends and family, and they were able to upload any footage they had from the big day so my husband and I could watch!

YouTube is also a great resource for education. You can find hundreds of instructional videos on nearly any topic to be used in the classroom or just to acquire a new skill. The best part is that it's totally free!

The Importance of iPads in The Classroom

Unfortunately to most students in middle school and high school, school is boring, bland, and definitely not fun. Introducing iPads to the classroom provides students with a new and interesting platform to gain information. By giving students the opportunity to learn their curriculum in a fun and interactive way, we can enhance students' interest in learning. Not only could most of their textbooks be accessed through the iPad, but students can use the iPad to search for information on their own and become the facilitator of their own learning.

iPads can be used to add a game-like feeling to learning, especially for younger students. By making the learning interactive, and allowing students to earn points, and advance through levels, the iPad gives students immediate feedback on their progress and reinforces correct and incorrect answers in an instant.

The iPad also makes the teaching process easier for teachers and allows them to spend more time teaching and helping students, and less time evaluating students and grading assignments. The iPad is a great tool for both students and teachers.