K12 Online Conference

Blog: Reflect on your K12OC experience.


This blog was called Tools to Create, Produce and Publish. This blog was posted by Jose Rodriguez on December 8th, 2011. This session shows how teachers can use a variety of tools to help teachers increase their knowledge, and help students create more creative work.


I was drawn to this session because I am always interested in finding new ways to help increase student interest. As my first year of teaching as progressed, I have noticed that students are often drawn to projects or programs when they can create and control an artifact. By being in control of the outcome, students are more engaged and are more self motivated to learn.


This session was really beneficial because the presenter talked about kidblog. Kidblog's are safe and simple blogs for students. This was a great resource to have because recently I was talking to a fellow teacher about how we wanted to provide our students with a safe blogging experience. As a teacher, I'm always very nervous to have students create log-ins or put ANY information on line; therefore, seeing how user friendly and safe this blogging website was made me want to further look into this resource.


Google Docs was also highlighted in this session. Although I have used Google Docs at the college and graduate level, I have yet to try this with my students. Seeing the possibilities with Google Docs, and how frequently they are being used by a diverse group of people, is making me realize how essential of a skill it may be for students to feel comfortable and confident using google docs. As a teacher I strive to teach my students skills they will need in high school and real life, therefore, if Google Docs is going to be highly used I would like to incorporate this technology into my own classroom. 


I would recommend this session to educators for all grade levels and subject areas. This session focused on a lot of ways that technology can be implemented in any classroom, and would be useful for a variety of curriculum areas.






http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=902

Week 3 - Providing Equal Access to the Digital World to all learners

What does it mean to you when you hear that it is up to the classroom teacher to: Provide Equal Access to the Digital World to All Learner?  How, or what, would you do in your classroom to meet that statement?
This is a short (2-3 paragraph) blog entry.

When hearing the statement, "it is up classroom teacher's responsibility to provide equal access to the Digital World  to All Learners", I strongly agree with this statement. As our world becomes more digital and technology becomes more advanced, it becomes more of a responsibility of the teacher, or teachers, to make sure that students are prepared for the digital world they live in. As a teacher, your job is not only to educate students and teach curriculum, but also to help them grow as people and to be prepared for life beyond your classroom.

By not providing students with digital access or digital learning experiences, teachers would be providing students with out of date learning techniques and strategies. The world is becoming more digital, and by not providing our students with digital competency than this is unfair to our students. Our students will be at a disadvantage compared to others later on in life or in their academic careers. Even schools that do not have the funds to provide every student with a computer, or iPads to demonstrate the different uses of apps or does not have the resources or funds to implement smart boards, these schools still have the ability to work with the technology they have.

Many school districts are not able to afford the latest and greatest software, with so many changes to education -often times technology is not a school districts first priority. That is why many educators are willing to share their tips and techniques for finding solutions to these problems. Many teachers are willing to share free educational software or resources, or classroom activities that help integrate technology. Even if a district does not have the resources available that a teacher would prefer, it is the teachers responsibility to integrate technology to the best of their ability.

Integrating technology could mean planning activities using the teachers computer and/or an overhead projector, or the classroom computers if the teacher is fortunate enough to have these available for use. As an educator in the 21st century, it is the teachers responsibility to provide students with a variety of digital resources. All students, from special education to ELL students, should have this exposure. By providing students with digital resources teachers are helping prepare students for future and the technology that they may be using in the future. Exposing students to technology at an early age is often more successful because students will feel more comfortable using different resources.

Week #2 - Technology You Use The Most

Week #2

Keep an eye open.. to see what types of technology you use the most. TV, microwave, cellphone, ect. Do you remember what it was like BEFORE you had it? What is it like when you no longer have the ability to use it (such as a power outage, drop in service, ect).

The types of technology that I use the most would be my laptop, iPad, iPod and cell phone for personal use. When at work I frequently use my laptop, twenty-four desktop computers for my students, my overhead projector and iPad.

I can only vaguely remember what life was like without the technologies that I frequently use. Although I remember a time before I had a cell phone, it was strictly because my parents said I was too young to use one. I also remember having a personal computer in my home around 4^th grade, and having my own computer as early as 6^th grade. Since I started school I always took a computer course, and cannot easily recall life without computers or cell phones.

I remember not having iPods and iPads. Prior to iPods people used portable CD players, by having an iPod people have more access to more music through a smaller device.

When I do not have the ability to access my technologies it can be frustrating or relaxing. I have not been without my technologies besides for vacation purposes since my sophomore year of college when most of southern New Hampshire lost power and/or cable. During this time I was not able to charge my electronic devices, therefore, using them became complicated but not impossible. Even on vacation due to smartphones, I still have the ability to complete tasks using my cell phone that would once have required the use of a computer.

Without having access to checking my e-mail, I truly think my daily tasks would be complicated, and I would feel like I was missing a part of my day. I am constantly checking my personal and work e-mail for communication, therefore, not being able to do this would make my day feel empty.

Blog #2 – What it means to integrate technology in the classroom

Integrating technology in the classroom is something that I am very passionate about. I am very passionate about this issue because I believe properly integrating technology in the classroom not only enhances student learning and learning potential, but also helps prepare our students at a younger age for the global tech-savy communities they are entering in. Technology is constantly changing and evolving, and by not introducing these changing technologies to students they are going to be at a disadvantage to those students who were exposed to technology at a younger age.

By integrating technology students are also given multiple ways to enhance their learning, either by creating deeper learning experiences or by allow students to access the same information in a new way. Often times students are able to learn information and show their knowledge through using technology which can help create a new learning experience for children. Technology is also a great learning tool because it allows children the element of discovery, when students are using a computer they are in control of their learning and the product they are creating. From my experiences, I have seen that children really enjoy the independence of using a computer.

Introduction Blog

Blog #1 – Introduce Yourself

My name is Amber Bishop. I am currently a Technology Computer teacher at a small K-8 school in Southern New Hampshire. I graduated from Southern New Hampshire University in May 2011 with my degree in Business Education. Although I received a certification to teach secondary education, I am currently completing additional certification to become certified in Technology Education. I am also completing my masters in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Technology Integration.

In my spare time I enjoy reading, and hanging out with my two cats Max and Ceasar.