Blog 12

Topics I found interesting were both ones I found similar ideas and opposite ideas with. I enjoyed viewing what people thought of Wikipedia, and PowerPoint, as there was both contrasting and agreeing statements with mine. It made me think a little bit more on each topic and how broad they really are.

I would most like to learn how to use more software than just Microsoft Office, since I’ve known that since grade school and seemed repetitious to me. I think software such as Photoshop or Acrobat Reader might be more useful, and I think teaching to be compatible with both Windows and Mac books would be a very useful skill as many school switch what they have.

I think to achieve these goals I just stated I should try asking a Mac user about their different interface and system, and try to find a class that teaches more programs than just Microsoft Office.

Blog 11

My experience with Twitter was not much. I used it mainly in the beginning but slowly faded during the passing weeks. I find it to be more of a nuisance than as a helpful tool. I had to many email, networking, and updates to look at to bother with Twitter, but I can see how some people would like it, if they like to give people information on their whereabouts or if they need something.

I do not plan to use Twitter on a personal level. I think it is too much effort for things I do not care at all. It could be useful to promote a band, or a business, but I cannot think of things I would want to share on it, nor do I want to know half the things other people post on it.

I do not think Twitter is an educational tool, simply because there are much easier ways to give the information across to students. Emails are much simpler to use and give across the same message, and it’s much more professional than Twitter.

Blog 9

I would use Excel in a math based class, or one that contains a lot of data, perhaps like History. I would use this for a math class more towards older students, perhaps to teach about data entry and averages. I would also use this program to help students who would like to display history dates and events in an organized fashion, which this would be very useful for. This program could also help learning about pie charts and bar graphs.

Blog 8

My PowerPoint presentation is The Tortoise and the Hare. I think I did alright, but there is room for improvement. I could have made more animation, and more interesting text. I could have also improved how the text looked, and perhaps made it animated as well. My presentation formed a solid story line, but I did not go into much detail and picked only standard clip arts and backgrounds.

I thinking merging non computer technologies with computers would help teach students how both affect daily life. A tv show or documentary, for example could be shown, and then questions could be asked afterwards on a computer.

I think these skills would be incredibly useful to an education career. Presentation programs are useful both for students and upper management. PowerPoint can be used to display information to students in a efficient and pleasing manner, and can be done the same for a presentation for a boss or coworker. I think these skills will be useful to allow us to broadcast our knowledge and our presentations in a more professional and interesting manner.

Blog 7

Presentation softtware in K-12 is very useful to keep their attention and make information presented seem more interesting and appealing. This could be used to make games, movies, and special effects they would enjoy, and would like to know more of. Presentation programs however, could make other work less appealing and have students refuse to participate in it.

I would use Powerpoint to help influence teaching and learning in a positive in every aspect. Powerpoint could be used to display information easily on a board, and quickly without having to wait for the teacher to finish writing it. Powerpoint easily catches the eye and your attention better than a worksheet or textbook. Powerpoint could be used to show information in a cleaner manner than long blocks of text, and helps with presentations and speeches when needed.

An issue of education technology that interests me is the use of the new use of facebook groups for courses or class related topics. I find this is an interesting way to communicate with high school or college students who check facebook moreso than any other site. I find it a win lose situation where you gain the ability to easily access information and contact info with the class or teacher, but you lose the ability to be completely yourself on the networking site in fear of looking unprofessional for the teacher or class.

Blog 6

I think Wikipedia is useful in some terms, but not others. Simple definitions and genereal concepts are useful to find on Wikipedia, and if they cite their sources as well. However, many people can create a wikipedia page, or change information on another page. This poses the threat of receiving untrue information and invalid sources.

Blog 5

The internet is full of many sites and information. However, many times the sites many not contain valid sources, or may use biased opinions as facts. Despite this, the Internet provides numerous opportunities for research that may not usually be available. It’s very useful when using internet libraries and websites dedicated to learning certain topics, and helps guide research with sources a normal library or institution might not have. It is not useful, however, when the sites display false information or biased opinions.

I would use web based resources to support student learning in many ways. I would show how web libraries contain many useful articles and sources that would help further their studies and research. I would also show how some sites might not be as valid as others, to explain what the difference between opinion and facts are.

I would be worried as a teacher of fifth graders with computers due to the beginning freedom they are receiving. They would have to be shown how to properly use the Internet and how it could be used in an academic manner and what is appropriate in a professional subject.