Digital Blog Post #E – Chapter 7

Chapter 7 in the textbook was full of information on games, software, apps, and their link to learning. The three concepts that popped out at me were educational apps, digital games for learning, and intelligent tutoring systems. All three concepts are things that as a future teacher I would want to know more about. The first concept, educational apps, is “software applications for smart phones and tablet computers that can be used in teaching or personal learning.” (Maloy, et al, 2013, p.158) This was interesting to me because I want to make learning as fun as possible when I become a teacher. I also notice that most kids have a computer, smart phone, or tablet that they use on a daily basis. I think that if students were made aware of apps that are available and that are fun they would be likely to play them. The apps being educational is a great bonus. While looking at the different apps online I found the app for TheMagic School Bus: Oceans by Scholastic on iTunes. This app was just one of a bunch that can be used for fun and educational purposes. This one stuck out to me because I used to watch The Magic School Bus when I was a kid. Below is a little video of the app.

The next concept, digital games for learning, is something teachers are already putting to use in the classrooms. Teachers are using computers and web-based games to motivate students to learn. The games students are playing are helping students to develop “strategic thinking, interpretive analysis, problem solving, the ability to form and carry out plans, and adaption to rapid change.” (Maloy, et al, 2013, p.171) These games are allowing students to have fun and learn at the same time.

The third concept, intelligent tutoring systems, is something I had not heard of before. An intelligent tutoring system replaces a human tutor. The software will take a student’s answers to questions and calculate where a student may need more work or where they can move on. This tutoring system has been proven to be effective in helping students in all subjects. The subject it has most helped students in is math. The tutoring system has “simulations, games, tutorials, or collaborative learning models” (Maloy, et al, 2013, p.176) that can all be used to help students get better in the subjects they may be having a hard time with. As a future teacher I think that this software is a great system for students to use.  This would allow teachers to let the students that need help with a certain subject work on improving their skills while the rest of the class continues on with other lessons.

In conclusion, educational apps, digital games for learning, and intelligent tutoring systems are all concepts that teachers can, and some already are, putting to work to help students with their educational journey. As a future teacher these are all things that I know that I want to use to help students. Making learning fun is something that I think is important for teachers to do. With all the advances to technology it is making it easier and easier for teachers to help students improve their minds. It also makes the learning process a lot of fun for the students.

Resources:

Kahl, C. (n.d.). Hands. Retrieved February 16, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKyjCN0Q8Lk

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

The Magic School Bus: Oceans. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2015, from https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-magic-school-bus-oceans/id410622343?mt=8

"The Magic School Bus: Oceans" - Scholastic's Touch & Tiltâ„¢ Storybook App for iPad. (n.d.). Retrieved February 16, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2n-_Itbuvs

Digital Blog Post #D – Chapter 5

Chapter 5 in the textbook went over a wide range of technology and ways to apply that technology to improve learning. The first thing I wanted to talk about is the e-reader. This is a technology that allows you to read books or any other printed material right on the device. I personally have a Kindle and I find it to be a great alternative to books. I can load a textbook on it and I can make the print bigger, change the brightness of the screen, and a lot of other things. This is great for teachers to use with students. Books could be loaded and easily read over and over by different students. This could reduce the need for paper books and save trees.

Picture Created on Canva by Chasity Kahl

Another concept the book talked about is search engines. “A search engine is a software program that uses networks of computers to access information from its databases.”( Maloy, et al, 2013, p.103) These search engines provide a great resource to get information. One of the best search engines is Google. A student or teacher can enter in a keyword and Google will immediately come up with thousands of web pages about your search. This is a great tool for research papers and online articles.

The third concept is electronic note-taking. As a student this was a fascinating concept for me. Electronic note-taking allows you to use an electronic device or computer to take notes and store it. Certain programs allow you to keep the notes and share it between other devices. When I searched the options for phones I found Google Keep. This is an app that as a teacher or student you can put on your phone and type in notes or even speak them and they will transfer to written notes. It is a free app and would be a great tool to use. This was not the only app I found but it was one I would personally use. Taking notes on the go has great appeal to me.Below is a short video about the app.

In conclusion, Chapter 5 was a great read and went over a wide range of technologies. Some of these things were e-readers, search engines, and electronic note-taking. These are all things that can be put to great use by teachers and students. These technologies allow for faster and better learning.

Resources:

Amazingly simple graphic design. (n.d.). Retrieved February 9, 2015, from https://www.canva.com/

Android. (n.d.). Retrieved February 9, 2015, from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.keep&hl=en

Google Keep. (n.d.). Retrieved February 9, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbvkHEDvw-o

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Digital Blog Post #C – Chapter 3

Chapter 3 in our text book was full of new concepts that I wanted to look further into. The first concept is teaching in a unique, powerful, and transformative way with technology. As a teacher using technology in a unique way could be a great way to get the kids involved more in the lesson but also allow you to use the technology to teach the lesson in a way that you couldn't on a chalk board. I think the key to this as a teacher would be to make sure you think outside the box when you are setting up your lessons. The way a teacher integrates technology into the lesson plans could be a powerful tool for other teachers to follow. Lessons like this would mean that teachers are transforming the way the school is teaching its students and the way it is keeping up with technology and using that to their advantage to create better and more creative lessons. Below is a shot fun video on the history of technology in education.

The next concept is active learning. This is a concept that I truly believe in. Active learning means that as a teacher you are allowing students to be more hands on in their lessons. You wouldn't just sit at the head of the class and lecture but you might instead allow students to get in a group and work on a project together. The students would not just be learning a lesson but they would be a part of the lesson. I think this would also grab a student attention more and therefore students would be more likely to remember the lesson.

Created by Chasity Kahl on Piktochart

The third concept, teacher-centered and student-centered learning, is two concepts but I think they should go together. Teacher-centered learning is basically the teacher telling the students what needs to be learned and the goals they have to reach to get there. I think every class I went to in school was mostly like this. The other concept is student-centered learning. This allows the students to have a say in the classroom. It lets the students come up with questions that may not be on a regular lesson. The students may also pick a lesson or get in a group to do a project that makes them think outside the box. It is less of a strict way of learning and lets students be a part of the decision making. I think if the two concepts were combined it would a great thing. The teachers could keep the class on track with their lessons but also set aside time for the students to do their own thing. That would allow students to be creative in the class and also learn the lessons needed.

In conclusion, integrating technology in a unique, powerful, and transformative way is a must to keep up with the times and stay current. Also letting students be more hands on and using active learning is a great way to keep students participating and learning in the classroom. When teaching you can use a teacher-centered approach or a student-centered approach. Both are great concepts but if they were to be combined then teaching and learning could be elevated to a new level.

Resources

Kahl, C. (n.d.). Banner on Piktochart. Retrieved February 1, 2015, from https://magic.piktochart.com/

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

The history of technology in education. (2011, October 3). Retrieved February 1, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFwWWsz_X9s