Evaluating Digital Games for Learning

I went to the Math Arcade on Funbrain.com to review some games. I reviewed Math Basketball, Bumble Numbers, and Inkster. I would place all three games at the Applying Level and I think that they would be considered edutaining. I would consider these games on the applying level because in all three games you are required to solve math problems in different contexts. You are not required to create any problems or to differentiate between correctly written problems and incorrectly written problems. In all three games the goal is to solve the problems to win the game. I would consider the games edutaining because they aimed to give students practice with addition facts but they also were entertaining to play. The students were practicing their addition in many different contexts so they did not become bored with the one subject. I would definitely use this website for my students who were having trouble in math because it gives them a fun way to practice.

Create Your Own Social Bookmarking Site & "Managing Educational Information” Reflection

Until this assignment, my main source of saving information for my future classroom has been on Pinterest. The things I have been saving have mainly been bulletin board ideas and ways to organize materials. I have also been saving all of my materials from my classes for reference. When I began using Diigo for this assignment, I was a little unsure about how it could really benefit me. However, after using Diigo I see that it is an awesome tool for organizing resources for me and for my students. I know when I am working on a project, I really enjoy when my teachers give me a starting place for my research. The topic I picked for my Diigo was just a broad topic: resources I can use in my future classroom. I felt like picking a specific topic would not be beneficially for me if I did not use need resources on that topic. I think that as a teacher I will be able to manage sources for my use in the classroom and for my students use in Diigo. I will be able to create groups that they can join to access the information and whenever I find new sources, they will be able to see them.

Top Sources of Information Reflection

When compared to the rest of the adult population, I use the internet for almost everything. I use the internet as my top sources for weather, schoolwork, housing, community events, and local businesses. The other categories I do not regularly access through any medium. While the rest of the adult population used newspapers, television, and the radio as other avenues to receive information I use these purely for entertainment. The only time I even really use a newspaper is on Sundays to get the coupon inserts. I believe that most students use the internet in much the same way as I do. The internet is so easy to access with smartphones, tablets, and laptop computers that the internet is often the easiest and fastest way to find information. Using the internet as a search tool comes almost second nature to students. Teachers need to consider this information when assigning research projects. Instead of trying to change the way students get information, teachers need to teach students how to use the internet to find credibly sources. Search results can be misleading, but if taught how to find credibly sources they will be able to use the internet to their benefit.

Performance Assessment Reflection

I could teach a lesson on photosynthesis in relation to the environment using both a learning objectives format and an Understanding by Design approach. My behavioral objective would be, “Using notes from class, the student will be able to predict on paper how photosynthesis will change in response to a change in temperature of the environment and will provide an explanation of the reasons for his or her prediction including all 5 points discussed in class.” The Enduring Understandings I could include would address the importance of photosynthesis to the environment, I would also include how they affect one another. These two lesson plans differ in that they look at the lesson from different points of view. The behavioral objectives approach is focused on what the students will be able to do at the end of the lesson. The other approach is more focused on what the students will learn. The Understanding by Design approach is more of a “big picture” approach and the learning objectives approach is more detailed oriented. The lesson objectives approach explicitly tells the students what is expected of them, but risks the students "learning to the test” and not retaining any information. The Understanding by Design approach focuses on what the students will retain, and fosters genuine learning. However, this approach does not give a way to measure this learning. For a three-week lesson plan, I would utilize both lesson plan methods in order to help my students to learn with a big picture approach while still assessing their learning.

Teaching Creatively with Technology

As a teacher, it will be my job to teach students how to be creative. I will also be responsible for teaching my students how to use their creativity in productive ways. I will teach creativity to my students by giving them opportunities to be creative. When I am making lesson plans, I need to leave room in assignments for students to be creative. I can achieve this by assigning projects instead of tests. The projects allow the students to be creative, and they can still show me how much they know about a certain subject. Technology can promote creativity by providing an outlet for students to be creative. Some students need help creating the vision they have in their mind. Technology such as photostory, powerpoint, and prezi can assist students in creating their vision. Technology can also help studnets who may not be very creative on their own still make something they can be proud of. This will encourage them to continue to create and become more creative. Any teacher teaching any subject can use technology to help their students to be creative. There are so many different technologies today that can be used to do experiments, create presentations, and do projects that will help students to “think outside the box”. Technology must be embraced so that students and teachers may use it to their advantage.

Personal Experiences with Technology

I began using the computer when I was 8 years old. I mainly used it for games, around age 12, when I was in middle school, I began using the computer for the internet and for school use. I was mostly taught how to use a computer by my dad, but I learned a few things on my own. The more I used computers, the easier it became. I believe my early technology experiences were different from those experiences of k-12 students today. I believe that they start using technologies much younger. My little brother and sister started using technologies a few years earlier than I did. I also believe that students mostly teach themselves how to use the technology, where I was taught by my dad. I think the biggest difference is how much more integrated school and technology are. I began using technology in school when I was in middle school, but I believe now elementary students are using technology in schools. I think students should be taught when first starting out but after a little instruction, should be sent out to learn the rest on their own. I think a technology center would be very good for the students to learn about technology. It is important for the students to be taught how to type and use a computer because they will be expected to do these things on a daily basis in the real world.

Personal Technology Reflection

After examining my answers to the technology survey, I have decided that while I am decent at using technology, I have a lot to learn about using technology in the classroom. All of the programs I have used have been as a student not a teacher. I would like to learn to use other programs more efficiently so that they are not so scary to use. Then I would be able to use technology in my classroom to help my students learn in a more active manner. A prezi or an interactive lesson on the smart board can keep students engaged in the lessons a lot longer. Learning how to keep a blog or website would help me provide students and parents extra help and up-to-date information that they could access 24/7. I am proficient at using PowerPoint but I need to learn how to use other programs more efficiently. From my experiences as a student, I have learned how to create a good PowerPoint presentation to accompany an oral presentation. I also have learned how to create a website to display information. I understand how to use moodle and similar programs. I believe that all of my strengths are in areas that are more beneficial for students. My weaknesses are primarily in areas that would help me in my classroom. I need to learn how to make my PowerPoints more visually appealing and more interactive. I would also like to learn how to make a blog or website that can be easily updated without becoming cluttered. I also need to learn how to use a smart board in a way that is interactive to keep students engaged in a lesson. I believe that my teaching would be more effective in my classroom if I could use technology to appeal to my students.