Post 4

The concepts in chapter seven has helped me think differently about outlining and presenting ideas. As a teacher, I believe that I will use the concepts of outlines, idea maps and storyboards daily. First, outlining is an easy skill to be thought to any grade level. Next, using idea maps is a great way to get students to thinking through ideas and being able to break them down. Finally, the students can start what is called the storyboard process. This allows the students to start using graphic, audio, text and navigation. The technology that I would use to achieve these goals is a computer.
I would definitely encourage my students to develop outline, idea maps and storyboards. I believe that these will allow my students to become better thinkers. It will also allow them to become more creative. My students will eventually develop good writing skills.
A skill that I have learned in the last week is how to map ideas. I think that map idea sound fun. It allows me to think out loud.

Meggan's podcast

Post #3

I would create a lesson plan using technology by giving an assignment that requires the students to do research online. For example, I would like to teach 7th grade social studies. For an assignment, I would provide the students with the names of famous historic figures to research on. I would require them to go on reliable/trusting websites to get information. Also, I would require them to incorporate a PowerPoint in their project.

Some of my concerns about being a teacher who supervises students in a technology environment is that I would not be able to monitor each and every student. I would prefer to teach middle school students. I think that they require more attention than older students because they are just learning to use the Internet. I will monitor my students by putting a block on websites that I do not believe are suitable for school children.

I learned about google when I first learned how to use the Internet. I am still fascinated to this website. This web source has helped me with projects throughout high school and so far in college. http://www.google.com/

Post #2 Meggan Wright

As a student, I use Microsoft word frequently. In high school, I was apart of several different clubs where I had to use MS Word to make fliers and brochures to promote the clubs. Also, depending on how attractive the fliers are, the more interested the students are in joining the clubs. Over the years, I have seen my teachers use MS Word to create exams . For example, my geometry teacher use MS Word to create his tests which contained a variety of different shapes. I believe that the teachers use MS Word because it makes writing faster, easier for students to read and easier to edit.

In high school, in order to well promote sports, the coaches made posters and posted them all over the campus. The remembered these posters because they were not handwritten. They were well organized and creative. The teachers drew shapes of tennis balls, basketballs, footballs, baseballs and golf balls and pasted them on colorful cartridge papers. I thought it was creative because every year someone would draw on the posters which made it look tacky and messy.

During the last class, I personally learned to draw shapes on MS Word. I learned how to turn an oval shape into a regular circle. I also learned how to create my own quizzes. I think that being able to create my own quiz using MS Word will help me in my future career as a principal.

We are practicing MS Word 2007

• WOW!

Painting

Meggan Wright

I think that computers and technologies are important parts of the educational experience because it helps individuals think broader. The incorporation of information technology in the education sector is important to meet the challenges presented by new trends, especially with global communication of knowledge. New technologies and computers opens up prospects for learning that can be customized to students. I believe that its is essential that students become familiar with the concepts and use of information technology in order for them to be prepared for their future careers. Some of my concerns as to how teachers and students use computers are that students may go into inappropriate websites. Also, some teachers may not know how to teach their students how to use computers. According to chapter one, "it is possible for students to hack into school networks." To avoid this I will not allow students to use my computer. I agree with the issues raised in chapter one because I was not fully aware of the many uses of technology. One of the terms that I learned was cognitive load which means, how many chunks of information a person can think about at once.

In my classroom, I will use computers as a cognitive tool. I will include computers in my teaching to promote analytical thinking and information management skills among my students. I want my students to be able to better acquire, process, and present information using the computer as a tool. In this class, I hope to learn about different tool soft wares. For example, different internet websites, visualizations and spreadsheets software. I hope to achieve these goals because I do not want to be the teacher who asks her student how to cut and paste.


I grew up in Jamaica where my family did not have a house phone until the year 2000. I did not know how to use computers until I moved to the United States in 2002. When I moved to the United States, I was excited to learn about the new technologies but I struggled throughout my learning. Now, I feel like I have learned all the basics. In the future, I will become a middle school principal and I believe that I will use some of the skills that I will learn in the class.