Donna's Technology Class Blog

Describe the most striking revelation you had about the teaching of new literacy skills to your students as a result of this course. The most striking revelation I had about the teaching of new literacy skills involved how detailed the 21st Century Literacy skills are. I had not thought about the numerous skills the students required to complete the internet research projects that I had assigned in the past. Eagleton and Dobler (2007) assert “Reading on the Web is similar to reading in print, but … web reading is more complex than print reading.” Students must learn not only to decode and comprehend the material they read on the web, but also they must transfer the information to their own application. They must be able to take notes, summarize and transform the information to fit their needs. Describe how the knowledge and experience gained in this course will influence your teaching practices going forward. As a computer teacher, having to use the new literacy skills in this class h...

I evaluated The British Stick Foundation's website. I made a think-aloud screencast of the process and posted it to the ScreenToaster website. Have a look at http://www.screentoaster.com/watch/stV0pcQ0dIR1xbR1xdX11dU1dU/website_evaluation.

Rather than making any modifications, I have clarified my thinking in the form of a written personal theory of learning. I have a cognitive-constructivist personal learning theory. I believe that students need to construct artifacts with new information that is based on prior learning. I appreciated the practical way this class gave practical suggestions as to how to integrate the learning theories that were presented. One of the suggestions that I will implement immediately is to allow the students to use the SMART Board more. I had been using it more as an instructional tool; however, I learned that the students need to use technology as a learning tool. I will work to develop more lessons where the students are the ones at the board, not always me. Along with the SMART Board, I would like to integrate lessons using the Spinscape concept mapping web application. I would like to have students demonstrate their knowledge of concepts using the graphic mapping software, rather than havin...

This was a relatively easy program to upload photos and post comments. I did have some trouble with being able to use my microphone to record the comments, but overall, it was a great project. I hope you enjoy it. You may reach my Voice Thread at http://voicethread.com/#q.b530857.i2840529 or click on the title of this post.

I was hesitant to put students in social learning situations due to classroom management and noise issues. I discovered that the noise buzzing in my classroom means my students are actively engaged in their cooperative learning groups. "Cooperative learning is not so much learning to cooperate as it is cooperating to learn." (Pitler, 2007). Social learning helps students become more engaged and develop deeper understanding of a subject. "Technology can play a unique and vital role in cooperative learning by facilitating group collaboration, providing structure for group tasts, and allowing members of groups to communicate even if they are not working face to face" (Pitler, 2007). Some of the resources given in the reading this week suggested that students work in groups to make web pages, wikis, blogs, and multimedia videos. I liked the resources for teachers, especially the rubrics for cooperative projects. These rubrics not only grade the finished product, but als...

I like using the constructivist theory in my classroom. Over the years, I have taught in several states and subject areas. I found a great “hands-on” or constructionist science curriculum that I could integrate with the one I was required to use. This curriculum is part of the Challenger Center program, http://www.challenger.org/. The point of each activity is to ask the students a key question, give them a materials list, and allow them to create an experiment or artifact that will answer the key question. My students loved this material, and their grades in my science class improved. I was surprised to see that their grades and problem-solving skills also improved in other classes as well. I currently teach computer literacy. I use a modified constructivist method in which I give students information, demonstrate the procedures, and then allow them to practice the skill on their own. This method can work with a technology class, as well as an academic area class. I love all the onli...

I read this week about cognitivism. Cognitivism is a theory of how people perceive, remember, and apply information. In the video, Dr. Orey said that the human brain can only process 7 (plus or minus 2) pieces of information at a time, so we must decide which information is important. In light of this information limit, we need to teach students to decipher what is important. Note-taking skills are an important part of student learning and information retention. One of the examples to assist students in making the connection between the information presented and retained is note-taking. Several strategies were shared including giving "teacher-created notes." These notes can be digitally shared and then edited and summarized by the students as they transfer the information into their own words. Having the students think through the information presented to transfer it into their words creates another way for them to forge a connection in their minds-elaborating on the informat...