26. Course Reflection

It’s the end of the summer, and I have come to the end of this course as well.  I am very happy with what I have learned from this experience.  In truth, I enjoyed all of the assignments that were given.  Some were more challenging than others, but I learned something new with each one.  I learned about many new tools available on the web and through software, such as animation through Voki or GoAnimate or movie-making through Windows Movie Maker.  I have learned that digital communication is extremely important in the digital age and I have learned that I have the ability to communicate effectively with students, parents, and peers through different kinds of digital media.  The Internet is a place of ideas and expression with limitless possibility.

                What are my strong and weak points?  At the conclusion of this course, I can say that I remain confident in my ability to adopt new technology tools and to use them effectively.  I have always been interested in computers and I try to stay up to date on using new computer software and hardware.  I complete my work to the best of my ability, putting effort into each assignment that I turn in.  However, I am terrible with organization and time management.  Given the illusion of more free time than I actually have, I will procrastinate until the last minute – and that needs to change.  In the past, I have done very well with the use of a planner, a journal, and a calendar with all of my schedules posted in the same area.  Although there are many digital tools for this kind of thing, I perform better whenever I make myself sit down and write out my thoughts on things that need doing.  I am committing myself to making this change: as a teacher, I will fail to meet the needs of my students if I am not organized and managing my time effectively.

                In the future, I hope to continue staying abreast of news on new technology.  I want to be a teacher that provides the best possible learning experiences for her students.  I want to be a teacher that is always prepared.  I plan to integrate technology into my classroom however I can; while my resources may be limited, I can use the tools and resources I have to connect my students to technology.  Even if I have to bring in an old computer of my own, the potential of having technology in the classroom is too great to ignore.

                To be honest, I like the idea of blogging more than I like actually keeping up with a blog.  As I said earlier, I have tried many times to write in a digital journal, but I am more successful when sitting down with a pen and paper in front of me.  With that being said, I believe that blogging is an excellent tool for communicating and sharing ideas.  When I look back at my blog for this course I realize how much I have learned and I have a record of the path I have taken to explore the Internet.  Perhaps with more use, I will come to like blogs more for my own personal use.

                I have greatly enjoyed taking this course and the assignments that were given.  I go forward having more knowledge than what I started with and, to me, that means that I have achieved some measure of success.

24. Blogfolio

1.  Intro Video

I thought that creating an introduction video was a great way to start out the course.  A short video on my website will help to introduce me to my new students and to their parents.  Creating the video itself was a fairly simple process, but figuring out how to correctly post the video turned out to be a bit of a challenge.  The video needs to have clear graphics, the right volume, and the right player size.  It took me several tries to capture the right voice inflection and tone for the message I wanted to convey.  Although I am shy and will be hesitant to post videos of myself in the future, I can definitely see how creating a video of this type would be beneficial in my teaching career.  I believe that the first NETS-T standard best fits this assignment.  The first standard states that teachers should facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity.  The first steps toward facilitating and inspiring student learning and creativity involve introductions; as a teacher, I will introduce myself and encourage my students to introduce themselves in a similar fashion.  I believe that most children would enjoy creating an introductory video.

2.  Concept Map

One of the earliest skills that I picked up in the teacher education program was the mapping of ideas through concept maps.  However, as time progressed, the concept maps intended for my own personal reflection grew more and more complicated.  Representing my ideas on paper became a hassle.  I was very glad to have participated in the completion of the concept map assignment.  The software was an incredibly useful tool for organizing and elaborating upon my own ideas.  Individual bubbles or strings of bubbles are easily manipulated; pictures can be added to represent ideas; there are numerous font and color options to make the graphics more attractive; these, among other reasons, make concept mapping software an incredible tool for teachers.  Students could use the concept maps to plan projects, study, or brainstorm.  I found this software very easy to use; my biggest problem was coming up with a topic to explore!  The assignment fits the third NETS-T standard very well; not only does the teacher have the opportunity to model his or her own thinking on a subject, but he or she provides the students the opportunity, with appropriate modeling, to explore large chunks of information with independence.  This assignment was a perfect example of modeling digital-age work and learning.

3.  Teacher Website

I have to admit that creating a website was something that I dreaded at first.  A lot of planning is involved in creating an efficient, informative website; the best websites have clean, seamless graphics and interactive features.  While my website is simple in design, I now have the tools to create a simple and effective website for my own classroom.  A website can be a wonderful tool for communicating and collaborating with students, other teachers, or parents.  I had trouble getting the different elements of the website to come together in the way that I wanted, but I'm ultimately happy with how everything looks.  Since I am interested in teaching Kindergarten in the future, I wanted a website with simple navigation for parents needing information and fun, colorful graphics to represent a fun and colorful classroom environment.  The fifth NETS-T standard, in which teachers engage in professional growth and leadership, fits this assignment well.  Maintaining an effective website is a mark of professionalism and leadership because it shows that the teacher wants to keep parents and peers alike informed of important classroom-related news.

4.  Voki

I had more fun with Voki than I had anticipated.  At a first glance, Voki seemed like just another fun web tool; however, it has great potential for facilitating communication.  Students with special education needs have benefited from voice simulation for a long time now; Voki gives the avatar the appearance of speaking in addition to just providing voice simulation (text-to-speech).  Voki is a fun alternative to the introduction video or may be used by students to complete an assignment involving animation.  I had a little trouble getting the avatar to speak with the right tone, inflection, and pauses; ultimately the avatar still sounds inhuman at best, but it isn't as bad as it could be.  The first NETS-T standard fits the assignment well: teachers facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity by first creating an animation, then demonstrating the animation tools of Voki.  Teachers have the option of having students create their own messages.  In any case, Voki is an interesting little communication tool with a variety of fun avatars and options.

5.  Xtranormal (GoAnimate)

Unfortunately,  I was unable to use Xtranormal; as of the end of July, the website's services have been discontinued.  I read a review of the website's old features and it looked like it could have been a lot of fun.  I know that students would have enjoyed manipulating the characters to speak and act in whatever setting that was chosen.  For example, the animation tools of Xtranormal could have been used by a student to recreate a famous speech or to show a short skit around a theme.  Instead of Xtranormal, I used an animation creation website called GoAnimate; while GoAnimate required a subscription to use most of the advanced features, I was able to use the quick video service to create a short dialogue between two characters.  I chose a classroom setting with a teacher and a student, chose a voice for each character, and gave dialogue lines and adjusted emotions for each line.  It was very simple to use, but I was unhappy with how little emotion showed on the characters' faces despite my best efforts to make their speech and expressions more realistic.  However, I think that GoAnimate has more advanced characters and options that go along with their subscription.  The fourth NETS-T standard, to promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility, fits this assignment well.  The animation tools are diverse enough for students to create and share important messages and to model citizenship in various situations.  I think that the assignment also fits the second NETS-T standard, to design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments.  Like Voki and the introduction video, animation tools such as Xtranormal or GoAnimate are useful for communication.

6.  Turnitin Paper

I was familiar with the services of Turnitin before taking this course; in high school, my teachers would often have students submit major writing assignments through Turnitin to check for plagiarism.  Turnitin had an infamous reputation among students when I was in high school but the truth is that, when enabled, students have the ability to fix accidental plagiarism after having their papers scanned.  Most plagiarism is purposeful and lazy, but on occasion a student will read from a source and reword the information in a way that is too similar to the original.  Turnitin is also a good way to make sure that students are correctly citing information taken directly from a source.  I completed this assignment to the best of my ability, but due to my paper being late, I was not able to submit it to Turnitin.  Because I have grown so accustomed to having to write things in my own words, I actually had more trouble plagiarizing; I thought to myself, "This is too choppy, there isn't any flow to the words when I copy and paste.  Surely any teacher reading this would notice that it isn't my work."  Turnitin is a useful and efficient tool for checking for plagiarism, but it also allows for easy online submission and management of student writing assignments.  The fourth NETS-T standard, to promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility, fits this assignment very well.  Plagiarism is a huge problem with the availability of information in the digital age.  Students need to be aware of plagiarism: what it is, how to prevent it, why it is harmful to others, etc.  Turnitin.com is a useful tool for teachers and students alike in this sense.
 
7.  TED Videos

Who doesn't love TED Talks?  TED Talks cover a variety of topics with speakers from all kinds of backgrounds.  The messages are inspiring and encouraging.  The catchphrase of TED is "Ideas worth spreading;" these Talks are potentially a great way of coming up with ideas or inspiring students to succeed in school or in life.  TED Talks bring awareness to important issues.  I enjoyed writing about each of the TED Talks that we watched (Peace Game, Gaming, Schools Kill Creativity).  My favorite of the TED Talks was the one about bringing young boys back into educational success by rethinking how they are taught in school; as a somewhat different kind of girl, I found myself agreeing with almost everything that the speaker said.  I benefited from growing up with the tools that I needed to help make me feel secure in my personality, things that boys more often played with than girls.  The TED Talk about Hunters' Peace Game was also fascinating.  To see children communicating and interacting on such a level of complexity was amazing - and they worked together to solve problems that the real world can't.  Children have a way of approaching problems with innately elegant simplicity and generosity that many adults have lost.  Finally, the talk about creativity in schools is a wake-up call: our education system shouldn't be about rigorous assessments.  It shouldn't be about testing children extensively to put the "problem child" label on children that really only need a different creative outlet.  I felt very strongly about these videos and will continue to watch and share them in the future.  The fourth and fifth NETS-T standards fit this assignment well; TED Talks encourage citizenship, responsibility, growth, leadership, and creativity.

23. Windows Movie Maker

25. Turnitin - Examples of Plagiarism and Correctly Paraphrased Papers

Example of Plagiarized Work:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tsIrhOu7dr_3oGpE1R2_-BW2rUPbxUKcP-J8msQzsQ0/edit?usp=sharing

Summary/paraphrase of articles:

Traditionally, boys are much heavier users of computers than girls are.  This gender bias is rooted in the culture of modern technology; computer games and programming courses alike are geared towards males.  In the case of computer games, there is a vast variety of games that employ characteristics such as violence, gore, action, and competitive elements to attract a male audience.  Girls, on the other hand, are generally more interested in social and cooperative elements or a strong story.  The gender bias exists in education as well: science, technology, mathematics and engineering courses have a strongly technical nature that usually fails to integrate differences between girls’ and boys’ thought patterns.  Although the gender gap is gradually narrowing, there is still a strong male presence in computer culture as opposed to female presence.  Young girls are losing interest in computers due to preconceived notions about the nature of technologically demanding jobs, despite the fact that boys and girls are equally capable of mastering the necessary skills to be successful.  If we are not careful, girls will be left behind: girls, who see computers as “something for boys,” will be hesitant to approach technology on their own.  While software producers have come a long way towards producing products for a female audience, a greater responsibility remains; in order to ensure the success of future technological advances, I believe that female perspectives are needed.  Parents and educators have the responsibility of making sure that girls have fair and equal access to computers, and manufacturers have the responsibility of creating technology tools to suit the needs of girls.  Manufacturers have been hesitant in the past due to the difficulty of creating more socially immersive software or because of the perceived notion that products aimed at girls will not be financially feasible.

18. Teacher Website

My website:

https://sites.google.com/site/mrsboundskindergartenkangaroos/

22. What Does Technology Mean to Me?

What does technology mean to me?

Technology has been a big part of my life even from my earliest years.  For me, technology means ingenuity, creativity, and the never ending search to redefine the "cutting edge."  I've always been a little different, especially when compared to the stereotypical girl.  My love of technology was born when my uncle introduced me to computers as a small child.  My uncle worked on computers and his fascination with and enthusiasm for new technology rubbed off on me.  I remember sitting in his lap and playing SimAnt and Stickybear on an ancient Macintosh; even then, trying out the newest technology felt natural to me.

Every now and then, my parents would bring home a laptop from work.  I was fascinated by the idea of a portable computer.  I remember that my family first connected to the Internet when I was in the sixth grade; it felt as though an entirely new world was waiting just at my fingertips.  Suddenly I had the ability to communicate instantly with others without using the phone.  I had the ability to find information on any topic.  I had the ability to play games with other people.  Better yet, I had the ability to explore the incredibly creative software produced by others.  I have a soft spot in my heart for well-crafted roleplaying games, but I even found recipe storage and photo editing software to be fascinating.  If there was a problem out there, someone was trying to program a solution for it.

As I got older I began to have even more access to technology.  I received my first cell phone and a few years later, my own personal laptop.  By the time I received each of these, they were already obsolete.  Technology continued to exhibit explosive growth.  Cell phones became smartphones.  Laptops became tablets.  Devices went from big and bulky to slim and streamlined.  The future of technology is bright and full of wonder.  I think to myself, "what will we think of next?  What will technology be like when I am my mother's age, or my grandmother's age?  Do I live in the age when science fiction becomes reality?"

To put it simply, technology means the best of human innovation.  Technology is amazing.

21. How We Sabotage Our Own Privacy for Deals and Ego

How We Sabotage Our Own Privacy for Deals and Ego, an article from Mark Gibbs of NetworkWorld, touches on a very sensitive issue: the perceptions and reality surrounding privacy in a highly digitalized world.  In the article, Gibbs describes the multitudes of people who freely give out personal information.  Even the smallest trends, such as buying habits, can reveal more information about our personal lives than we intend to give.  Many of us "no longer care" how much personal information we give out, according to Gibbs; we give out personal information to banks, doctor's offices, on social media, and more.  However, the realization that companies and organizations are "mining" for our personal data scares us; the two points don't seem to add up.

While I wouldn't say that I have been overly protective of my information on the Internet, I have tried to take measures to protect the most vulnerable pieces of information such as my credit card number and my social security number.  I have placed my trust in companies that show security measures taken to prevent my information on their websites, but there is no guarantee that such information will never be compromised.  It is an increasingly more dangerous game to play to give out personal information on the Internet, but as societies around the world become more connected to digital media it becomes all the more difficult to avoid.

20. Younger Americans' Library Habits and Expectations

After reading a study from Pew Internet about the habits and expectations of younger Americans in regards to the library, I am very pleased to have read that library services are still considered to be of importance in our society.  Frankly, the statistics surprised me: the majority of young Americans aged 16-29 still see the library as a place of value; 75% of these youth still read at least one print book in a year; in fact, a higher percentage of our nation's youth use the library when compared to the percentage of the adult population.  Younger Americans expect to see the library services stay current with modern technology: while older Americans tend to stick to more traditional media, younger library users insist upon the importance and availability of digital media.  This results in a marriage of past and present, past and future, leaving libraries room to grow and transition.

I personally have used the library quite a bit in the past year.  I read as often as I am able to find time, usually between classes or during small breaks.  Sometimes I will read for several hours a night.  Generally, I buy my own books (and more often than not, e-books as of recently); however, I have borrowed many books from the library for class.  I, like the youth who participated in the study of library habits and expectations, value the help and expertise of the librarians in locating and recommending books.  I see the library as a peaceful, quiet environment in which to work and study; the presence of a Starbucks in the lobby also provides a place within the library for social gathering.  It seems that American youths see libraries in much the same way: a place to gather, to learn, and to convene and communicate with others.

The article mentions several different ideas for integrating libraries more seamlessly into our communities, many of which I think are wonderful.  Classes on borrowing and using e-readers and e-books will help adults transition into digital media.  Free literacy classes have the potential to help countless Americans into a better life, reduce crime rates, and more.  Providing more comfortable and expansive study areas would bring more people to visit the library.  I can only hope that this generation's interest in the growth of the library passes on to the next.

19. The Secrets of Top Students

The article The Secret of Top Students by Stefanie Weisman explores the reasons for the success of the nation's top students.  Many people feel that intelligence and success go hand-in-hand, that doing well as a student is effortless for "smart people."  This article hits very close to home for me because it states something that I have only recently realized to be true: intelligence helps people to succeed, but great success is earned by people who work hard and devote time to the things they wish to accomplish.

My grade school years seemed effortless to many of my peers and perhaps even my parents for the longest time.  It seemed effortless to me, if I am being honest with myself.  I grew up making straight A's and excelling in my classes; for me, doing well in school seemed as natural as breathing.  I worked hard, but I didn't realize it; being shy, I never had very many friends.  The early years of my life were heavily built around doing well in school.  My parents taught me that I should put forth my best effort for every assignment and I took that to heart.  I cherished the friends that I had, but I didn't often spend time with friends in the same way that others did.  I held my record of straight A's until my senior year of high school.

My senior year was difficult for me.  My best friend suddenly left town in the middle of the night, I was struggling with Calculus, and I was left disappointed and discouraged from a series of teenage heartbreaks that left me feeling lonely and vulnerable.  I remember the disappointment of my Calculus teacher and the anger from my parents better than anything else from that year.  I remember coming to my parents at the end of the year and telling them that I had the third highest GPA in my grade - their response was that if I hadn't made a lower grade in Calculus, I could have been the valedictorian.  It was crushing in a way that I don't think they ever fully understood.  Regardless, I graduated with honors and had full scholarships to go to the school of my choice.  I had made it into the Early Entry Program for aspiring veterinary students.  I was certain that I was on my way to great success.

In college I quickly learned that working hard was more important than having natural intelligence.  The students who were prepared to sacrifice hours of their personal time to put forth excellent work were the students who had the best grades.  I had to work much harder and put forth much more effort into my college courses than I ever had put forth in grade school.  I realized that Biochemistry was not for me, and that neither was Graphic Design.  I realized that Elementary Education was for me, but even now I still have difficult days.  After the stumble that I had taken at the end of my senior year, I struggled to find the motivation I would need to succeed in college.  Sometimes, I still struggle to find it.  If I had the chance to go back and give myself advice, I would tell myself that I shouldn't have ever built my self-esteem and aspirations on the expectations of others.

The article is well written.  It says things that people greatly need to know: success comes within.  Success comes from effort, hard work, perseverance, good time management, and perseverance.  What it doesn't emphasize enough is that the individual must own all of these qualities - let support come from other people, but build the foundations of your confidence to be strong and to stand alone.  After all, learning is meant to be of great self-benefit.

17. Xtranormal

As of July 31, 2013, Xtranormal is no longer available. As an alternative, I used a similar service called GoAnimate to create this short video. Field Trip Rules by jessica.a.bounds on GoAnimate

16. Voki

15. LEAD Issues Five Digital Learning Recommendations

The LEAD (Leading Education by Advancing Digital) Commission has a goal to spread the benefits of digital learning and technology in the classroom to every student by the year 2020.  This is a wonderful, albeit challenging goal; the mission is to "make digital learning a national priority for every child to have access to the same high-quality 21st century learning tools – regardless of zip code."  The LEAD Commission hopes to accomplish this goal of technological equality with a blueprint which includes five recommendations, discussed in the article.  These five recommendations represent the starting point for something much bigger.

The article discusses the spread of awareness of the nation's technological needs when it comes to education: schools are lacking in the hardware needed to connect students to high-speed Internet, and many teachers are unaware of lack complete understanding of the tools available to them through online resources.  LEAD proposes to continue the growth of technology use in the classroom by promoting awareness and encouraging schools with successful implementation of technology to reach out to other schools.

I commend the reach of the goals set forth by this organization and look forward to the future growth of technology use in classrooms; however, I am hesitant to believe that digital learning tools will be in the hands of every child by the year 2020.  The gap between more and less affluent students is one that has been difficult to bridge in many situations, and the use of technology has been argued on both sides to be lessening and widening this gap.  In any case, the spread of technology - when used appropriately and understood by those who are teaching - can only be a good thing for the students who are fortunate enough to have access to these additional learning tools.

14. Sir Ken Robinson - Schools Kill Creativity

In his TED Talk, Ken Robinson argues for the importance of creativity and describes how the demands of society over time have shaped the way the education systems of the world are built.  There is a global trend in the ranking of importance of subjects: mathematics, sciences, literacy at the top and the arts at the bottom.  Even within the arts there is a hierarchy of importance: the "traditional" arts such as painting and music are given prevalence over dancing and theater.  Robinson, however, argues that each of these subjects are important in their own ways - and that on the path to honoring only the "highest" of the disciplines, we crush the creativity of future generations.  His most profound example is that of the woman who went on to choreograph the musical Cats; in her childhood, she had struggled in school.  She constantly fidgeted and distracted other students; when taken to see a doctor for her "problems," the doctor realized that this particular child was made for dancing.  She flourished in a school for dance; she found people like herself, and brilliant talent was allowed to shine.  Within every person is the potential for great things, gifts undiscovered or left without nurturing care.

I do not want to argue the importance of any one subject over another.  I believe that different learning disciplines are meant for different people and different gifts.  I often think about my future as a teacher and wonder how I can possibly serve so many children at one time, when only a single child has the potential to do great things if this promise can be found and nurtured.  I remember that I am not the only person who can help this growth to happen, and I feel encouraged.  However, I believe that the education system has a greater responsibility to realize the natural talents that children have and to help them find the way into a life of happiness and fulfillment that only comes from living the life of doing what you love.

13. Ali Carr-Chellman - Gaming to Re-Engage Boys in Learning

Among the more frequently discussed issues regarding problems in education is the fact that many boys are being lost to the modern school system.  Ali Carr-Chellman, in her TED Talk about re-engaging boys in the learning process, describes this modern school system: zero tolerance goes beyond its originally intended purpose; there are not enough male role models in classrooms; and the compression of the curriculum has created serious problem for the students who have fallen behind.

The idea behind zero tolerance is that, in the body of students, the many are protected from the few.  In this case, "the few" are students who would seek to harm others.  Instead of going to the source of the problem, schools remove the "instruments" of this problem, going to the extent of limiting even discussion about these "instruments," such as guns and knives.  Carr-Chellman argues that this kind of zero tolerance has gone too far - schools expect boys to respond to things in the same way that young girls might, but boys deserve the same opportunity to express themselves that girls have.  Boys deserve the opportunity to talk about their culture in the same way that girls do.  As a girl that fits outside of the societal "norm," I find myself very understanding of this argument.  The things I like to do and the ways in which I choose to express myself have been mocked by my own family; nothing is more demotivating than to feel unappreciated by the important people in our lives.

The second problem is, in some ways, the most profound.  Carr-Chellman points out something that many of us know, but fail to consider:  where are the men in education?  In comparison to the number of women, there are very few men in the field of education.  If boys and young men need male role models at home and in society, why wouldn't they need a male role model in the classroom?  It is worth considering that some of these young boys may not even have these male role models outside of the classroom, leaving them completely devoid of appropriate male influence.  This is a serious problem.

The final problem is the compression of the curriculum and the increased attention on teacher accountability.  While I agree that the progress of children and the success of teachers should be closely monitored, I have very strong disapproval of the way that these issues are affecting our schools.  Learning should be creative, engaging, and immersive (as video games often are, as pointed out by Carr-Chellman); the compressed curriculum discourages both teachers and students, draining the life out of what otherwise has the potential to be a wonderful learning experience.

All in all, I found that I related to this TED Talk more strongly than I would have anticipated.  I have experienced some of these issues for myself, although I would have to say as a whole that my education growing up was excellent.  I have seen these issues alive in the boys that I have observed in clinical and want desperately to find a way to reach a solution.

12. John Hunter - Teaching the World Peace Game

In 2011, an elementary school teacher named John Hunter gave a TED Talk about his World Peace Game.  In only a few minutes of speaking, this teacher managed to convey the essence of the great importance of teaching and creativity; as a future teacher I have often wondered how I will meet my students' needs in a way that will engage them beyond normal learning.  In the talk, Hunter spoke of the teachers who came before him: the teacher with class and professionalism; the teacher with love in her eyes; the teachers who were his parents.  He said that he stood on the stage not alone, but on the shoulders of those who had shaped his future.  I thought about my own experiences with teaching and I see that I have also been standing on the shoulders of those who have supported me over the years.

Hunter talks about a game of his own creation, involving a series of pieces of ply board and plexiglass.  Placed on these boards are a number of countries with various resources; each country has a leader and chooses his own cabinet.  A class of fourth grade students is given fifty problems to solve - problems that society faces on a daily basis - and on a small scale, these students are able to solve the problems that society cannot.  The game is won when all problems are solved and each country is wealthier in assets than it was at the start of the game.  Hunter spoke of a few individual experiences with his students, each one touching and thought provoking in a different way; I only hope that I will be able to achieve the same relationship with my students.  The World Peace Game is an engaging way to encourage young minds to open up to the world in its flawed beauty, to interact with others, and to leave the world better than it was as it was left to us.

11. College Hosts Educational Technology Speaker Series

Recently, Illinois State University hosted a series of speakers with the topic of technology and education.  Among other topics, the speakers talked about the use of technology with special education needs, building digital resumes, and the growing trend of using iPads in the classroom.  With technology becoming more prominent in the classroom it has become increasingly important for educators to have access to and the ability to learn about new technology.  In this particular case, those attending the speaker series not only had the opportunity to learn about different types of technology used in the classroom but had the chance to get to use them and try them out for themselves.  These technology tools help to supplement existing tools and give teachers new ideas for presenting lesson plans.  Children are often excited by the interactivity promised by using technology in the classroom.  However, care should be taken not to "force" the use of technology into a lesson plan where another method makes more sense; in this case, it is important to consider the needs of individual students or classrooms.  Technology has infinite potential as a tool for education, but it is up to the teacher to apply the technology in the best way possible.

While completing my clinical experience last semester, I was happy to see that the teacher had stations set up for using computers to learn.  The teacher also had a set of three iPads with educational applications.  While she only had a few computers and iPads, I could tell that the students greatly enjoyed the opportunity to spend part of their day playing educational games.  A few computers and iPads made a difference in her classroom, just as technology made a difference for me when I was an elementary student.  Another thing to consider is that technology can be greatly beneficial to students with learning disabilities; the use of iPads can not only be educational but therapeutic as well.

9. 15 Strategies Educators Can Use to Stop Cyberbullying

With the increased use of technology in the home and in schools, a form of bullying called "cyberbullying" is becoming more prominent.  In the article 15 Strategies Educators Can Use to Stop Cyberbullying, the author describes cyberbullying and lists important strategies for both preventing and resolving this threat.  Cyberbullying emerges in many forms on the Internet - harassment, derogatory remarks, fighting or "flaming," deception, cruelty, impersonation, stalking, or sexting, for example.  Cyberbullying starts early, unfortunately; it is important to raise awareness and to promote prevention.  From a personal perspective, I have recently had to deal with harassment from a person I didn't even know simply for being new to a community and being unfamiliar with certain norms.  Because the Internet is such a big part of the lives of modern children, it is of great importance for both children and adults to understand the risks of interacting with others online.

The first step in fighting the problem of cyberbullying is to teach children to be good citizens even while online.  Many people will say and do things online that they would never have done in person due to the perception of anonymity and the inability to respond to others on the Internet as people on the other side of a screen somewhere.  Teaching children to respond appropriately to abuse and to encourage good citizenship in others is the first step toward lessening the threat of cyberbullying.  Children and adults alike need to be aware of the threat of cyberbullying and to be able to communicate about potential situations that may arise.

Before teachers can help students to understand cyberbullying, they must be understanding of it themselves.  Many teachers are unsure of their ability to fight against cyberbullying; therefore, it is of great importance to educate the educators about what they can do.  There are resources out there, including informational packets and lesson plans.  Parents and the community should also be involved in fighting against cyberbullying.  When everyone comes together to create a plan for fighting cyberbullying, we can help to protect our youth and to to create digital citizens.

10. How Teachers Are Using Technology at Home and in Their Classrooms

After a study done by Kristen Purcell, Alan Heaps, Judy Buchanan, and Linda Friedrich of Pew Internet on the impact and uses of technology at home and in the classroom, surprising results have surfaced.  Technology is becoming more prevalent in most aspects of society, but how does it affect learning?  This study sought to obtain this information by interviewing randomly selected middle school and high school teachers from all around the country.  These teachers, selected from a pool of Advanced Placement (AP) and National Writing Project teachers, represent a broad spectrum of types of schools and students.

After reading the results of the study for myself, I was surprised to find that many teachers are beginning to allow the use of smartphones in the classroom.  Teachers are eager to provide greater access to Internet resources both at home and in the classroom, and the use of smartphones allows students to have access without ever having to leave their desks.  I was not surprised to read that the students from more affluent schools generally had more access to technology than schools in urban areas with students from low-income families.  In the study, teachers stated that they were concerned that students, while having at least some access to technology in schools, did not have the same access to technology in the home.  When asked if technology is working to widen or diminish the achievement gap between types of schools and students, the opinions were split nearly down the middle: 44% of the interviewed teachers said that the gap was narrowing and the other 56% said that the gap was growing.

I was not surprised to learn that young teachers were much more likely to express comfort when using technology in the classroom.  In general, younger teachers are more likely to incorporate technology into assignments; however, almost all of the teachers stated that they used technology to organize, create assignments, and communicate professionally.  Students, in general, have kept up with the latest trends of technology; however, students lack the understanding of research and credible resources of the older generation.  It is up to the teachers to help students to find credible sources and to encourage them to seek sources of other types, such as in print.

After reading the study, as a whole I am glad to see that the use of technology is becoming more prevalent in the classroom.  As someone who loves technology for personal use, I know that it can be an excellent tool for learning and researching.  However, I know that the use of technology must be monitored carefully and supplemented with other sources of learning.  I also find myself hoping that equipping lower-income schools with current technology becomes easier; arguably, lower-income students are the ones who could benefit the most from the use of technology.

8. Concept Map

Ecosystems

I.       Definition of an Ecosystem

What is an Ecosystem?

http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange1/current/lectures/kling/ecosystem/ecosystem.html

An ecosystem is a biological community which exists in some location and has certain characteristics depending on the type of ecosystem or biome present.  Ecosystems are made up of both living organisms and nonliving components.  Living organisms and nonliving components interact with one another through certain processes: webs, systems, and cycles of many kinds.  Within the community of living organisms, scientists consider the impact of the individual, the population, and the community of each each ecosystem.  Because the ecosystems are linked with one another and cover the Earth's surface, it is important for us to take care of our environment.

A.    Interact through webs, systems, and cycles

B.    Living Organisms

C.    Nonliving Components

II.     Freshwater

Freshwater

http://kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/biomes/freshwater.html

Freshwater ecosystems make up a very small area of the Earth's surface at about 1.8%.  Lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams are all freshwater ecosystems.  Lakes and ponds are typically surrounded by land; rivers and streams are moving bodies of water that eventually connect with the ocean.  Freshwater ecosystems are home to a variety of types of animals, plants, and insects which interact with each other through various systems.

A.    Small area of Earth's surface (1.8%)

B.    Freshwater Animals

C.    Webs, Systems, Cycles

III.       Terrestrial
(Land)

Terrestrial Biomes

http://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/terrestrial-biomes-13236757

Terrestrial biomes make up approximately 23% of the Earth's surface.  There are seven major types of biomes: tropical rainforest, savanna, desert, temperate grassland, deciduous forest, coniferous forest, and tundra.  There are other types of terrestrial biomes as well, but they are not as prominently featured.  The location of a particular biome type is determined in part by latitude on the Earth's surface and in part by the amount of rainfall the location receives.  As with other biomes, different systems influence the characteristics of each terrestrial biome, including the water cycle and the food chain.

A.    7 Major Types (Biomes)

1.    Savanna

2.    Desert

3.    Deciduous Forest

4.    Coniferous Forest

5.    Tropical Rainforest

6.    Tundra

7.    Temperate Grassland

B.    Webs, Systems, Cycles

C.    About 23% of Earth's Surface

D.    Other Biome Types

E.    Location: Latitude and Rainfall

IV.    Ocean

Ocean

http://kids.nceas.ucsb.edu/biomes/marine.html

Ocean biomes make up the largest part of the Earth's surface at 75%.  The ocean biomes include five large oceans and many smaller gulfs and bays.  Ocean biomes differ from Freshwater biomes in two main ways:  Ocean biomes have a high salt content in the water, and ocean biomes can be divided into three vertical sections: shallows, deep ocean surface, and deep ocean.  The ocean can be very cold with few nutrients, but it also supports an incredible variety of animal and plant species.  As with other ecosystems, living and nonliving components interact with one another through systems and cycles such as the water cycle.

A.    Large area of Earth's surface (75%)

B.    3 Types of  Oceanic Systems

1.    Shallow

2.    Deep Ocean

3.    Deep Ocean Surface

C.    Webs, Systems, Cycles

V.     Protecting the Ecosystems

Protecting the Ecosystems

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120917132148.htm

Why is protecting our ecosystems so important?  In addition to providing beautiful places for recreational activities such as hiking or fishing, our ecosystems help to keep our planet in balance.  The water cycle distributes water around the world; with so little fresh water available for consumption, shouldn't we protect it?  Plants and animals matter too - each one has a part to play in the food chain and the life cycle.  Nutrients pass from the earth into plants, animals, and people, then return to the earth.  If our planet becomes polluted or a system becomes unbalanced, it hurts everyone.

A.    Conservation

B.    Recycling