Expectations

My expectation for this class is to become more competent in using technology to help educate students and to make their lives easier. There are so many technologies available that it is a little challenging to find out which technologies work best for learning what concepts. This course requires more time and effort but at times it is hard to grasp what one is exactly supposed to learn. I think the instructor has the most influence on a class especially one that is interactive such as this one. The instructor sets the tone for the course and determines what the lesson plans should be.

GROUP COLLABORATION AND PROBLEM-SOLVING

Working with a group gives students a different perspective on the lessons. It improves ideas and critical thinking and communication skills. At times learning depends on how it is presented. Good relationships often tend to come out of group collaboration which can cultivate into more productive ideas. But with benefits also come challenges. Some students do not thrive in group work and prefer to work on their own. Also there is potential for conflict. When forming a group it is important to select members who work well together.

My Teaching Style

I think it is important as a teacher to teach students facts and concrete principles about certain subjects so that they can learn but at the same time form their own opinions about those facts. They need to know how to give feedback on certain issues. It is essential for students to go through that process and think for themselves instead of someone forcing their own opinions and beliefs on them. There are numerous types of technology that could introduce different subjects and issues to students. For instance, there could be Powerpoint presentations given to students about the history or facts of a certain event. I would definitely make sure that my students are actively engaged into the lesson plans to make learning more of an active event. I think it is very important for instructors to incorporate an equal amount of inquiry, communication, critical thinking and problem solving. I think technology could play a very large role in my classroom by making lessons more interactive and in turn this would engage my students more.

Learning Environments

Learner-centered instruction should provoke students to think visibly and give the teacher a chance to observe a student's thought process. It should also present students with subject-related problems or challenges and asking them to explain the reasons behind their thinking. Knowledge-centered instruction should contain elements within the subject content that gives students access to the knowledge in an accurate and timely manner. This type of environment should also encourage students to ask specific questions about the material when it is not understood. Knowledge-centered instruction should guide students to learn with understanding and skill. There are two types of assessment learning that should be included in assessment-centered instruction are formative assessments and summative assessments. Even though these two assessments are highly important but they are also very different. Formative assessment allows teachers and students to evaluate each other during the learning experience and allows an environment where feedback and reflection is continually given. However, summative assessment is an assessment in which results are measured. Summative assessments are given to ensure that what was meant to be learned is reinforced. Community-centered learning promotes lifelong learning and gives students the opportunity to feel confident during their quest for learning. It is also ensuring that both the student and instructor are actively engaged during the learning process. I have tried to engineer a version of a learner-centered environment. When working at a local daycare center, the staff and I taught students about numerical concepts in a setting where the students were encouraged to speak out and ask questions but at the same time we and the students knew what was expected out of each other. There are ways in which an instructor can evaluate. They can do this by asking themselves if they have discovered something about the learner's background knowledge, interests, and social and cultural values. They could also ask themselves if they have offered rigorous enough content and helped the student's understanding. Instructors can use this information to determine what types of instruction works well in certain situations and what does not work well in certain situations.

My Goals

Well I know there are many aspects to integrating technology into education but sometimes it can be a little overwhelming. I just want to get to a point where I feel comfortable using technology to teach students such as posting lesson plans on-line or using interactive simulation assignments to engage students more. It is kind of hard to explain what specific goals I want to achieve in this class when I don't know exactly what this class entails but I will try my best to become acquainted with the uses of media technology to teach students.

My Goals

One of the many things I would like to learn how to do is create a podcast. I would love to learn how to do this so people can hear my opinion on certain issues on current events. I know the basic concepts of the computer but there is a ton of concepts that I do not know of but hopefully this class will shed a light on those things.