Computer classes

Computer class is necessary given today's society. Students should be learning the basics of computer skills at an early age, even in kindergarten and grammer school. Even if it's just playing games on the computer children are still learning the basics. 

As they get older students should be familiar with applications that can help them with school work or learn new information. Every child knows how to browse the web but there are so many applications with computers that are unknown. We should use our computers to the full extent especially starting at an early age. 

The only way to do this is to have classes available to every child that will teach them all they need to know about computers. Advanced skills like programming and web design are also a must. 

Technology Integration Plan

My matrix is based on a lesson plan on earthquakes.  The goal of the lesson is to increase student understanding of plate tectonics by proving earthquakes follow plate boundaries.  Students will do this by researching recent earthquakes and plotting them on a map.  The first step is to have a lecture on plate boundaries and how it affects earthquakes.  By having a group discussion evidence can be gathered as to why earthquakes happen along plate boundaries.  This will exercise the students’ skills on note taking, brainstorming and research.  Technologies used during this can be projectors for presenting new material, internet access to have students do research on their own, and word processing to create a list of ideas.

            The second step is to locate areas on a map that are being affected by plate boundaries and therefore earthquakes.  This is done through an explanation by the teacher and evaluation of maps. A question and answer based discussion is also beneficial at this time.  Since maps are being evaluated a good resource to use is Google maps.  You can view live images of the earth that make the lesson authentic and interesting to the students.  Additionally, the internet, E-maps, and satellite images will all be helpful.

            The third step is to asses the gathered information so far.  This can be achieved by having students do additional research and then organize their material.  Students should work in small groups to collaborate and come up with their own evidence.   This evaluating process connects to the fourth step, which is to make a presentation on evidence that supports the theory of plate motion.  This will be done in small groups via PowerPoint.  Students can also use the overhead projector, internet sources, and any other materials they might need.

            The last step is to have students track down earthquake activity and plot the points on a map. Students do this though collecting data and completing research.  The teacher should explain the procedure first through lecture and then let the students work individually.   This portion of the lesson requires the internet, E-maps, earthquake recording sheet and a projector.

You can access my matrix at the link below. 

My matrix

Writing Vs Typing

I don’t remember a time when I had to write an essay by hand.  Maybe it was in third grade when an essay was only a paragraph.  Therefore I do not even know how to write an essay by hand.  I would not know where to begin.  However for standardized tests students are required to write an essay prompt without being given a chance to type it on the computer.  Are we giving our students a disadvantage by only having them complete typed essays?

Computers have made the process of writing lengthy essays a whole lot easier.  You can write a sentence, delete it, and rewrite another in less than a second.  You can also go back to a page you have just written and add another paragraph to make the paper read smoothly.  There is no question to it if computers have benefited students in this area.

However, I believe we should have our students practice writing informal essays by hand.  It is a skill that everyone should have and excel at.  We write almost every day and we should be exercising that skill.  I believe typing is a necessary skill as well but we should not neglect hand written work. 

Power Points

            Power points have changed the way teachers lecture.  Now they can add pictures, models and diagrams without taking the time to draw them out or wasting time writing their notes on the board.  Their thoughts can be more organized by having everything in place and the lecture can run smoothly. 

Power points also benefit the student since they can access the power points if the teacher posts them online or has them printed.  This will help students study since the teacher’s notes are basically a condensed version of the textbook.  They can refer to the important aspects of the lesson in an easy way that is clear to them and saves time.

Power points also are valuable since they make the lecture more student based.  Without having to write all the notes at the time of a lecture the teacher has more time to engage the students actively.  He or she can present a slide and ask the students a specific question pertaining to the material presented.  This can engage a conversation that the students can lead themselves. 

Having pictures presented is also very important.  Pictures can get a point across better than words.  It can stimulate the students’ feelings of the lesson, which should be a main goal of every lesson.  Without the student being involved in the subject matter they will never fully grasp the main idea.  Overall, power points are an effective tool to use in the classroom.    

Movies in the classroom

We have all watched movies in class, some that we have enjoyed and others not so much. The real question to be asked is if it was beneficial in any way. I can recall watching movies in English class to compare it to the novel. This was educational and fun. 

However as a science teacher I am skeptical about videos in class.  I remember in my 12th grade biology class a video meant nap time to most my classmates. This is unfortunate since a video can show many things that is impossible to illustrate in the class. For example a video in science can be a witnessing of a volcano or earthquake,  or exploring oceans depths and outer space.  

I think the problem is that most educational videos are out dated.  A student is more inclined to watch a video with actors in current clothing or updated quality. The student will concentrate less on the ancient look of the actor and more on what he or she is saying. 

However teachers today are lucky to have the internet as a resource. Instead of showing a VCR tape we can YouTube a video on any content. Instead of having a movie waste time while students have a midday nap, we can show a shorter video that gets right to the point and that will grab our students attention. 

Remixed Canvas

For my remixed canvas I chose a canvas on a unit plan of French traveling. This original unit plan is based on the student's skill of the French language to travel through France and produce a French brochure.  I used this idea of the French culture to produce a unit plan on the earth's weather and climate system pertaining specifically to the climate of France. This unit would normally be applied to the student's current climate so that they could follow the weather as they see it.  However, this unit broadens the student's knowledge of the earth's entire climate system.
As I remixed the canvas I noticed how most of the original content was erased.  I thought this was odd since it took away from the idea of remixing a canvas.  It was more like creating an entire new canvas.  It would have been more beneficial if the content was transferred to the new canvas.  If anything, the major templates, like the main idea of the canvas, the photo gallery, and the video, should have been carried over.  You can find my remixed canvas here.

Unit Plan Canvas

This unit explains how and why earthquakes happen by following the path of earthquakes along plate tectonic boundaries. It explains that plate tectonics are moving and are a cause of earthquakes, tsunamis, and the formation of mountain ranges and oceans.  Creating a map of earthquakes presents evidence of plate tectonic motion.

An introduction to this unit is found on my canvas (URL below).  The canvas was made through playground canvases and includes images and videos that will help illustrate the main idea of the unit.  The canvas also includes additional resources that are helpful in creating a map of current, active earthquakes, and in understanding the concepts of plate tectonics.  

http://www.play.annenberginnovationlab.org/play2.0/challenge.php?idChallenge=2514&mode=view#network6