Chapter 2

Chapter 2 is about communication through the internet. I found it rather interesting that the internet has existed since 1960 while the World Wide Web came about in the 1990's. The section THE WORLD WIDE WEB discusses the components that make up web pages. For instance; the URL is a uniform resource locator. The most common protocol is the hypertext transfer protocol (http://) This section also goes into more detail about different types of hypertext/ hyperlinks/ hypermedia. I found that I definitely fall into the Web Surfing category, jumping from one page to another. The Web helps teachers and students communicate with other teachers and students in other countries. One main website that allows teachers and students to do this is ePALS classroom exchange. Another interesting fact that the book says is the best way to learn how the internet works "is to log on and explore."
This past week I learned different ways to search the web to find different topics. I didn't realize all the things that Google had to offer besides their original start up page. The web hunt allowed me to search for things using different tools and further my understanding of how the web works. These web hunts are a great tool with teaching all subjects.
Last weeks class was beneficial with teaching later on. We were able to find websites to talk with other teachers as well as finding websites to find lesson plans. I didn't realize how many websites there were out there that teachers use and how they end up helping each other. I want to teach Math for high schoolers and I found some great websites to help with lesson plans as well as places to go to find worksheets and what not. This class is going to help out a lot with teaching! I have been doing volunteering at a High School and I enjoy it. I have been helping 9th and 10th graders with Math FCAT which I HATE the FCAT but i feel better about myself in the fact that i get to help others and thats the most rewarding part i think of being a teacher/volunteer.

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 is filled with more detail pertaining to the inside of the computer. Most of this information I never knew even existed. This chapter explains the common things in more detail as well as things the little things that make your computer run better/faster in an easy way that is understandable. For instance I knew that the more pixels a screen created the better, however, I didn’t understand how the numbers worked. The first number is the pixels per horizontal row whereas the second number is the pixels per vertical column, then you multiply them to get the total. (That makes sense!)This chapter gives lots of examples of each kind of device that the computer can do; input, output, storage media and devices. This chapter breaks down the components of a computer in a way that even if you think you know that part fairly well you still learn more about it.

I have never used Inspiration 8 prior to this class. I found it to be a very useful tool program and I think it beats trying to make those concept maps on Word. That takes a really long time and it doesn’t look near as nice and cool as the way Inspiration allows you to arrange the data. These maps with be helpful in teaching just about any class. I wish when I was in school they had concept map application like this instead of us trying to draw them and make them perfect. This would have been a huge time saver.

I must say I'm not a big fan of this book. I think its ok, gives lots of examples and things like that but with technology you need to be hands on. I feel that I learn better in the class rather than reading this material. There’s just so much to read and try to remember and I don’t think I will ever be asked a question that pertains to the components of the inside of a computer. This class will be beneficial in itself; I think the book hinders this course rather than benefit it. I despise SAM I think it messed up my computer as well as my roommates. I'm not sure how it did it but it did it.

***Glad the giants won…however I wish Peyton Manning got MVP instead of his little brother ;)

Chapter 3

While reading Chapter 3, I couldn’t help but laugh. I felt that the material covered was basic information and that it came from one of those self help books “…for Idiots”. This chapter covered a lot of material that students should already know coming into this class. I didn’t feel that I learned all that much. The main thing that I got out of this chapter was the difference between the operating systems. I didn’t realize how many there were and the subcategories in each one. A large majority this chapter was items that we have learned previously by using computers, or from other classes. I feel that this chapter wasn’t needed. This book is very easy to read and has great visuals, however, at times it makes me feel a little dumb the way it’s presented.

Some new skills I acquired this past week were in regards to Assignment #2. I knew how to present my information in columns but I couldn’t figure out how to get just the selected information not the whole document. I also figured out how to work a functioning hyperlink. This link will come in handy later on in teaching and for personal uses. Assignment #2 will be beneficial with newsletters for teaching as well as ever day use, in communities, churches, ect.

I think this class will help not just with teaching but with everyday usage of new developing technology. I usually like to figure out things for myself, trial and error, but with computers that’s not the best idea. I have decided that when taking computer classes it is best to ask questions whenever I get lost or confused! I feel this class will benefit me more than other classes I’ve already taken; therefore I really like this class!

*I am tired of being sick…this cold should not last this long!

Chapter 1

John M. Keller developed ARCS motivational model. ARCS stands for Attention, Relevance, Challenge/Confidence and Satisfaction/Success. The main purpose for Keller’s model was to make learning more interesting and fun. Digital students are children that are multitaskers. These kids like to do more than one thing at a time and enjoy doing so. Since more children are digital students, teachers have rethought their processes of teaching and have conformed to this new style. Now days schools all over the world use computers and new technology to teach their classes. They may use community digital storytelling or transmedia story to help in teaching their students.

Since the last time our class met I have learned several new things on the computer that will help in teaching a class. I have learned more about Office 2007. Since the 98 and 03 series are now outdated, we must learn the new tabs, groups and other attributes that the 07 series has to offer. I think that overall the 07 series is much easier to use and is a better tool than the previous series. The 07 series seems more user efficient, not so complicated and better for the digital kids. To me this class is going to have a huge impact on how the upcoming teachers teach. This class will actually be useful unlike most classes we take.

As far as things I’d like to share I want to be a math teacher in middle school or high school. Growing up I always wanted to be an elementary teacher (kindergarten) but after volunteering for my kindergarten teacher I changed my mind. Nowadays the teaching criteria for kindergartners has changed immensely since we were in that grade, I don’t feel I have the patience to teach that at that level. Math has always been my strongest subject so to me that makes since. I changed my major 7 times in a matter of a year, and you can’t change what your heart wants, so finally I decided this was my best route.

First Blog

I haven’t ever taken classes about technology other than a typing class in high school. However, I love the computer and I am usually on it for more than half the day. I like to think that I'm fairly good at using them, that is, until they break or something goes wrong. I like to learn new things about new programs or new tricks from other people. Technology is constantly changing and is at time hard to keep up with.

In this class I hope to learn how to incorporate technology with teaching more. My goal in becoming a high school math teacher is to bring more of a connection with technology and math. Math is one of those subjects that isn’t usually done on computers. In order to grab the students’ attention, the teacher must make the material interesting. In today’s world the logical way to accomplish this is with the use of computers. I hope to be able to use the skills from this class to obtain this connection.

I found out that I am slightly more active than reflective. That I like learning facts, my sensing styles out weights the intuitive learning styles. I learn much better visually rather than verbally. That is clearly shown by the results calculated. These results also prove that I learn better sequentially rather than global.