Technology Reflection Assignment

General Instructions

1.              Provide your answers for each section below by following the statements/instructions

2.              Delete all the highlighted instructional statements (in YELLOW) except for the section titles

3.     Copy the entire document (including your answers) and paste them onto your blog post with the following title “Technology Reflection: Instructional Use of [name of the technology]”

 

Description/Experience

            From what my fellow peers told because I was absent due to a Jewish holiday, the technology demonstration mainly focused on the website edmundo and its functions. They described this website to serve the same purposes as WVU’s Ecampus website. Here, teachers can post discussion topics, announcement etc.  Students in return can reply to this responses and receive feedback from there teachers. Personally,  I am already involved with the website edmundo. My PDS coordinator created one for the tutors.

 

Application

            An activity that my teacher and I can teacher she is typing up stories using Microsoft Word. My mentor teacher has mentioned before that incorporates Microsoft Word in her classroom. Because I am working with ESL children, the is program allows them to see there mistakes and corrects them. The activity would involve the students writing a short story or description about there home country. The student will gain better understand of not only how words are formed, but show them how they are correct. Also, as younger children, they are slowly learning how to type and use a computer; this provides practice in this area. This assignment is aiming at students in 4^th grade and up due to the fact that the younger children still have trouble recognizing words and cannot read. A teacher could tell if this activity was effective by examining the amount of mistakes the child made. Here, she would be able to see what the child has difficulties with and what they succeed in.

 

                  The first thing I would do is inform the student of what the big picture is, writing a story about them.  Then I believe they should be told what each step is briefly so they know what they have to do and what is expected out of them. Next, I would ask them to describe there own life, using just a pencil and paper. After the student has the story written, they will be using Microsoft Word to type up the written product. After this step, the teacher can look at what mistakes the student has made, and help him revise his work.

Reflection

Pedagogy-Content:

                       

            I think it is important to present some type of visual and example for younger students, especially ones learning a new language. Having that concrete example, gives them a format to work off of. I would want to first show them a published book to introduce the content of written a short narrative. Then I would create a book that was about me to show the student what exactly the book should look like.

            I think something as a teacher you always need to be conscious of is whether the activity is age appropriate as well as fits into ones culture. Some child who have moved to North elementary, do not have the opportunity to use a computer at home. I think its important to note this because it can completely change the difficulty level in comparison to someone who has access to a computer at home.

Technology:

            A computer is one of the most useful technologies for schools. They can perform many tasks and help with many lessons. Microsoft Word in particular is a very diverse tool. Microsoft Word, at this point in society, is an essential tool in education. For almost all of students classes, a word processing tool is almost always used for papers and other assignments. This is a lifelong skill.

            In this point in society, a computer is a pretty accessible tool, especially in schools and libraries. Although, many families still do not have computers, there are many other ways to access this type of technology. In regards to Microsoft Word or any word processing program, I would say almost every computer has one. This tool has become a crucial part of technology.

Technology-Pedagogy:

                        The technology would be used to type of the chosen story of the student. The computer would be the main source of technology. The actual program of Microsoft Word, would be the tool used on the computer to ultimately complete this activity

                        Using a computer is would change the way I teach this activity in a few ways, First, I believe using this technology calls for my independent student work. But ultimately, the project has a main and final purpose of having the child create a computer-generated story.

                        I think the only classroom management strategies I need to use are just monitoring the child’s activity on the computer. Because I take 1-2 children out at a time, it is easier to control and give better attention to the students. I believe I just need to make sure they are doing the work rather then playing around on the computer.

Technology-Content:

                        I don’t think it would really change anything. Because it is a lesson that incorporates technology as a final step, there is not much need for change.  The examples would be already typed of lessons so the child has an idea of what is expected from them and what the final product will look like.

                        I think this activity would how teach children learning English has a second language proper word formation and spelling. This activity will also help with there typing skills. Writing a story using the word processing programs allows them to see what is wrong and fix it rather than continue on with wrong spelling and structure.