Wikis

I think wikis are okay, but they're not my favorite thing. I prefer blogs for sharing ideas and discussion. In a blog, everyone can express their ideas and then comment on those of others. Wikis could be useful for group projects and peer editing or something like that. I don't think I would use them very frequently in my classroom. However, after completing this assignment, I may change my mind about them.

I think traditional instruction in the classroom is still very important. Some students can learn without it, but it is necessary for others. I think teaching something in the classroom setting and then using the interactive learning communities to reinforce what the students have learned would be effective. I've had trouble with online classes in the past, but I do well in hybrid classes that combine online and face-to-face instruction. No matter which way students learn best, combining different approaches to the same material makes the lesson universal to all students in the class and helps each student to understand it better.

Whether it is due to their personality type, I don't know, but everyone learns differently. According to my test, I'm an EFSP. The profile for an EFSP fits me in some aspects, but doesn't in others. I can only assume that a similar profile for a student would not be completely accurate either. I don't think I would count on the personality profiles of my students too much. I think it will be fun to get to know my students and discover what works best for each one individually.

Spreadsheets in the Classroom...

I think spreadsheets can be pretty useful in the classroom (once you learn how to use Excel). I haven't used Excel 2007 much and it was a little confusing at first because nothing is where it used to be. But after I got the hang of it, it wasn't hard and was kind of fun. I think using a variety of programs and techniques in the curriculum is crucial to effective teaching. It will keep the instructor and the students more engaged than if they were doing the same thing every day.

The three primary functions of a spreadsheet are to store, calculate, and present data. Spreadsheets are useful for gradebooks and material aids, among other things. A spreadsheet allows you to store and edit information easily, whereas a calculator does not. Using a spreadsheet for a gradebook is a good idea because you can keep track of many students' grades in one place. It's easy to see who made what grade on which assignment. Also, the spreadsheet accurately calculates each student's average and it's easy to update when you add a grade. I think Excel is a great program and when used properly can be very effective for both teachers and students.

Inspiration

After taking the quick tour of Inspiration 8, I am very curious about the program. I plan to teach high school English and I think Inspiration could be very useful. While some of the pictures seem a little elementary, the ability for the student to organize thoughts and ideas so quickly is great. I would be interested in trying the program for my own paper to see if it simplifies the process at all. In the classroom, Inspiration would be ideal in making sure that my students are thinking their topics through and organizing them appropriately. I also think that using Inspiration would help keep the paper focused and on track.

I think that a program like this would be beneficial when writing anything that requires complex structure, like research papers, speeches, etc. Blogs are convenient for journal entries or class discussion. When I was in school, we always traded papers for peer editing. Usually we would have to have two other students review and initial our rough drafts, but that never helped me much because I was always ahead of the class with my writing. I do think it is a good idea for the students to proofread each other's work, but it isn't always the optimal solution for every student.

Week 2: Blog Questions

What do you think about using blogs? What and how do you think blogs would be useful for education? Some people think using blogs in classrooms is a waste of students’ time. How would you respond? What are some ways that you could use the technology ideas in Chapter 6 to support your curriculum and student learners?

I think using blogs in the classroom is a great idea. Parents can use them to check their children's assignments and become more actively involved in their child's education. Being able to make one post and reach an entire class and each student's parents also lessens the work load on teachers. As Dr. Tyson pointed out, publishing worksheets to the blog so the students may print them out at home helps save on the school's paper budget.

Blogs are ideal for discussions as well. First, students will become more comfortable using the computer, if they aren't already. Also, everyone will get to post their thoughts without interruption, so their ideas are more developed. Another thing that I think is a big deal is that a lot of students will be more comfortable expressing their thoughts and ideas in a blog than in a classroom setting.

I understand that some students would be more comfortable with traditional classroom instruction. That's why I think it is important to have both. A blog could be a beneficial tool when used along with classroom instruction. The only drawback I can see is for those students who don't have internet access at home, so I think that needs to be considered when teachers decide how they want to use their blogs.

School, Family, etc...

Hey, I'm Amanda! I live in Paris and I'm starting my junior year at TAMU-Commerce. I transferred from PJC and I'm an English 8-12 major. I graduated high school in Fort Worth but I went to a lot of different schools over the years. I'm kind of shy, especially in front of a bunch of people! The only blogging experience I have is on myspace, so we'll see how this compares...

I work as a cashier on weekends at Wal-Mart in Paris. Right now I'm one of several people being considered for a CSM position, so wish me luck! I share an apartment with my mom. She does home health in Dallas--usually one week on, one week off, but it varies sometimes. I have a brother, Jordan, who is a year younger than me. He also lives in Paris with his girlfriend, Lauren. They're expecting their first baby (a boy to be named after my brother) in January. I am very excited that I'm going to be an auntie! I'm very close to my family. I have my grandma and several aunts, uncles, and cousins who live in and around Paris, too.

I guess that's about it! 'Til next time...