Google Assignment

Think you know everything there is to know about Google? Here's your chance to find out. Check out the Google Web Search Features. Which features were of interest to you and why? Do you think that the turtorials/guides (http://www.google.com/educators/p/ xxxxx) provided for educators would be helpful to you in teaching your students how to search the Web more effectively? Why or Why not? Use a SEARCH product (listed below) that you have NEVER used before and report your results as follows: Were you aware that Google had so many specialty search engines? Now that you know, do you plan on using them in the future? If yes what products will you most likely use in the future? If no, state why you do not plan to use specialty search engines. (25 pts.)

Done in class....

The google Weather and Book Search were interesting to me. The weather was an interest because I like to know how to dress in preperation for the weather. Also to see what the weather is like back in my hometown in Michigan. The book search was another interest because I am an avid reader. I like to know when the new releases are coming for particular series I am reading. It helps could potentially help me find that special book for a person's birthday gift too!

I think that the tutorials/guides could potentially be helpful to me in teaching a student how to search the Web more effectively. I say potentially because I had trouble using them myself. Therefore I can not really tell.

Google-Water Quality in Toledo, OH-"Drinking Water Quality Report"

I did not get the results I was searching for. I was hoping to get a list of the quality of the water, not a percentage of how much water has been consumed in Toledo, OH.

I was not aware that Google had so many specialty search engines. I do not believe that I will use these specialty search engines, though I can not be sure at this time. I say "no" for now because I am unfamiliar with these specialty search engines. Maybe I will try using them to become better acquainted with them, then I could potentially give a more conclusive answer.

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Games, Simulations and Virtual Reality

What makes video games so engaging? [Provide at least three findings of the research) How can teachers scaffold the gaming experience? Finally, do you think that teachers should use games, simulations and VR in the classroom? (30pts)

Video games are engaging because there is always an answer; with more than one way to get to the answer, nothing is impossible, competition and collaboration are both healthy states, there are clear rules, games provide clear roles, effort is related to outcome, games simulate consequences.

Teachers can scaffold the gaming experience by showing that games can be beneficial to classroom work.

I believe that teachers should use games, simulations and virtual reality in the classroom, as long as it correlates with the class. Its an easy way to attract student attention to a subject and it helps to make learning a fun experience.

NOW - Play a few games!

(50 pts.)

The best game that I played was Verb Viper. It is an English related game. I teaches kids the proper placement of verbs. I believe that this game would be good in an English classroom because of the way it helps to teach verbs. I liked this game because it was entertaining and also because of the fact that after each level it showed you what you missed.

Blog Reflection #5

What specific technologies did you learn about this semester that you think will be valuable to use in your future classroom? Why will this technology be valuable? (pts 10)

There are a lot of technologies that I learned about this semester and that I think will be valuable in my future classroom. One specifically is Microsoft Word. I believe this will be a valuable technology because I plan on becoming an English literature teacher. Microsoft word is something that is easy to understand for both teachers and students. Also, students doing writing reports can format their work and spell check in Microsoft Word.

Blog Reflection #4

What benefits do spreadsheets offer teachers? What are the greatest benefits for students when they use spreadsheets in the classroom? Can you envision yourself using spreadsheets in your classroom? Why or why not. (pts 10)

Spreadsheets allow teachers to organize data, quickly edit data already formatted in spreadsheets, and provide progress charts.

Spreadsheets are useful in the classroom learning environment because they allow you to organize sets of info, calculate numbers, and create graphs that makes data visible without having to read through all the numerical information.

I imagine that I will be using spreadsheets in the my future classroom, but not as a part of the curriculum. I imagine myself using spreadsheets for grades and progress updates.

Blog Reflection #3

After using visual thinking software, describe the 21st century skills you think were most valuable to you in the learning process? (pts 10)

The most valuable skills to me for using me using the 21st century skills in the learning process was the analysis and organization of information. Using this technology students can provide large amounts of information in projects that they have also been able to research using this technology.

Synchronous versus Asynchronous Communications

Define synchronous and asynchronous communications. Provide at least three (3) examples of each.

Two or more people communicating in real time is synchronous communicating; they are in sync. Classroom discussions, talking on a cell, or video confrencing are examples of synchronous communication.
A more flexible way of learning is asynchronous. The teaching occurs at one particular time, but can be accessed by the student at the students convinced; prior to the set deadline. Email, online courses, and video/audio records are provided methods to use for asynchronous learning.

Podcasting

What is a Podcast? Who creates the content? Where do you find podcasts?

Podcasts are series of digital media files; digital video and/or digital audio, that are made for downloading through the web.

Anyone with the proper technology can create a podcast.

Podcasts come from people, who upload their podcast to the internet or to a technological music player that is compatible with podcasts. You can find podcasts through the internet.

Multimedia & Hypermedia

What five (5) multimedia elements are discussed?

The five multimedia elements that are discussed on the document
are Text & Typography, Graphics, Animation, and Sound.

Blog Reflection #2

How does using multimedia allow you as a teacher to appeal to a wide diversity of learners? (pts 10)

Multimedia has a variety of text, audio, images, animations, and videos that makes it possible to

reach a variety of people with different learning abilities. You can even use a mix of the media

mentioned above to reach a wide diversity of learners.

Case Study #2: WISE Learning Environment, Pg 53-54

Q:1 How is WISE an example of a constructivist learning tool?

Q:3 What features of group work are effective here?

1. I believe that WISE is a hands on, step by step, real life learning tool. It also lets students work at their own pace, it teaches them strategies for group work, and it allows them to acquire research information too. WISE is a constructivist learning tool because of these facts.

3. The features of group work that are effective here are collaboration, participation, and each student gets to become a 'specialist' in one area; therefore each student must complete their portion for the whole project to be completed.

Case Study #1: Four Classrooms, Pg 33-34

Q:1 How does each of these scenarios relate to the issue of learning environments?

Q:2 Which cases present questions that could e addressed with the Learner-Centered Psychological Principles?

1. Each of the four classroom scenarios relate to the issue of learning environments by making the fact that budgets and equipment are hard to come by. It is difficult to decide what is and what is not appropriate for the classroom as well. They also deal with the issue of learning environments because they speak of media and technology and the attempt to incorporate both media and technology, in the classroom.

2. It is my belief that classrooms one, two, and three present questions that could be addressed with the Learner-Centered Psychological Principles. In classroom one the student would use pictures to represent learned facts, which correlates with the second principle in the set of Learner-Centered Psychological Principles. In classroom two the internet technology is used with instruction practice, that can be correlated with the sixth principle in the Learner-Centered Psychological Principles. In classroom three the student is shown animations to discuss later which have influence in motivation and emotion, as such it correlates with the seventh principle in the set of Learner-Centered Psychological Principles.

Blog Reflection #1

Blog Reflection #1 - Topic: What do I know and think about integrating technology in the classroom?

I know that integrating technology into the classroom has had an interesting impact on the process of learning and teaching. I know that there have been benifits and there have been drawbacks. I believe that integrating technology in the classroom is a good thing. It can speed up the process of education and it can teach real world skills to students. It also gives students and teachers a reliable way to communicate and it allows a variety of information to be accessed easily.