Take Away Message Mar 31.

Today, I learned about the importance of feedback. The class discussed the group topics but before discussing the topics, I only had a few thoughts in mind. However, I learned new information and several ideas through the feedback discussion. It is truly important to share ideas in the classroom.

Chapter 7 Reflection

         Chapter 7 focuses on the educational software program and also mentions video games.

There are some different types of educational software programs; one is ‘composing and calculating software’ like word processing and spreadsheet software programs. Another is ‘building, inventing, and creating software’ such as Kid Pix and Google Earth. It can provide exploration environments and give students a chance to solve their own question. The other is visual thinking and concept mapping software. It can allow us to create things like graphs, symbols, charts on a computer. Students use these tools in their learning because it is beneficial for various reasons. Using these tools student can express their thoughts or ideas creatively and electronically create things more easily. I agree with the general idea explained in chapter 7.

            However, as I was reading the contrasting views about computer games in learning, I could not help but go back to the most elemental question: What is learning? I think the learning process is never simple enough so that every student achieves their goal easily. It is complicated and it requires more brain work. Maybe this process is called ‘intelligence’. Jean Piaget said, intelligence is what we use when we don’t already know what to do. If students are trained to respond to their task in a certain way, they will not be learning anymore. I think educational tools need to help students’ brain work more intellectually. One thing I am concerned about is the addictiveness of computer games. I do partially agree that there are positive aspects of video games for a student’s education. However, we shouldn’t miss the consequences. When students play games they sometimes become too acquainted with the stimulation and they become distracted if they have to learn. Maybe for these reasons, chapter 7 continuously highlights how to find educational software and videos through showing the criteria, rubric or strategies for using them properly.  

1. Have you played any video games that you would recommend for educational purposes?

2. How can playing video games negatively affect a students' education?

Take Away Message Mar 24.

These are websites assisting teachers to create successful lessons.

https://www.visualthesaurus.com/

http://lexipedia.com/

http://quizlet.com/

http://www.plimoth.org/learn/MRL/watch

https://minecraft.net/

I will try to use this website for my lessons. There are many attractive online materials. The important thing is choosing what online tools should be selected for a lesson. We know online games can be a good educational tool. I think it is a new and interesting method. 

However, teachers should think about how to use these methods successfully in their lessons first. I think that learning is not always fun and students need struggle when they are learn a concept. Sometimes struggling can be a learning experience for students too.   

Chapters 4 & 6 Reflection

Chapter four focuses on the professional growth of a teacher’s engagement for using technology effectively. On the first page of chapter 4, it states that teachers required to be experts in technology is a myth and the reality is that teachers with relatively little technological skills can provide useful instruction. It seems teachers are supposed to think about how to use technology first than be an expert for successful learning. I strongly believe that teachers should continuously contemplate about using technology in their classroom. They also need to be trained properly to meet the advances of technology.

The Internet is in the middle of the technological advancements. I learned how to manage my educational information and learned what educational websites are available through the textbook. I think the educational website tables show six major types of internet contents which are very useful. Until now to search for educational resources, I usually use web contents in my native language. Now I can find many new useful English websites resources through the Internet. There is a saying that goes, “a native language makes a road we can walk in but a foreign language will create a window to the road. Maybe I am seeing the attractive educational materials through that window on my road.

It is quite interesting for me to be informed about the 50 free education apps. I have used some of them usefully and frequently. When I knew about ITunes U for the first time, I was so amazed that I could access lectures overseas. Nowadays, I am using Blackboard Mobile for my education. Also, I have tried to use the Socrative app. There are two Socrative apps: One is called the Student Clicker and the another is called the Teacher Clicker. Teachers need to ask some questions in their virtual room and then the students are supposed to enter the room and answer the questions.

We know there are a variety of educational apps in other app store categories like the news, photo and book categories. My favorite educational app is Google Earth. It is in the travel category. I am sure teachers can plan lessons through this app. It enables a student to not only search for information but can use video clips, data or photos and also experience a 3D virtual world. Finally, I’d like to mention Google image search. I think the visual materials are the key elements in website resources. I would use the search engine to find images or videos rather than through text information for my lesson plans. 

Q1) Young children can easily learn to be digital citizens in their school. But think about the adults who misuse their digital devices because they didn't get the chance to use technology and learn to be digital citizens. I feel the need to learn to be a better digital citizen because I sometimes misuse my digital devices. Do you think you have an adequate knowledge of technology to be a proficient digital citizen? If not, what do you want to learn more about to become a better digital citizen for your virtual life?

Q2) Have you used the websites that are recommend on our textbook (table6.2~6.7). Can you share your reflection using the sites? 

Take Away Message Mar 17

Frankly speaking, today I heard the expression "digital citizenship" for the first time. I have been living in the real world and also the cyber world. We are all supposed to not only be digital citizens but also citizens of our communities. Teachers should carefully think about teaching methods for the young digital citizens.

Take Away Message Mar 10

This class is useful for me! I often do not use my computer to its full potential. Maybe we need to consider using the information we have available more effectively. There are many handy resources. It is important to know where and what kind of information can be found. Thanks to my instructor I have useful tips about using educational material sources.

Chapter 5 reflection

What I got out of the readings from chapter 5 is that school teachers need to be trained in certain essentials of information literacy instruction to support learners in today’s information-rich environment. 

According to Jonassen’s article, he mentioned about the components of a Constructivist Learning Environments on the Web. One of them is Social/Contextual Support. The paper emphasized the importance of training the teachers who will be supporting the learning. I was quite amazed at the one sentence that is what throughout the history of instructional design and technology, projects have failed most often because of poor implementation.

From chapter 5 I read about searching, researching and evaluating internet information. Before I read this I thought information literacy was an easy and simple procedure. But now I believe that information literacy is fundamentally important because it‘s a first step in e-learning classroom and an essential basic skill in information society.

Information resources are mentioned as one of the key element of a Constructivist Learning Environments on the Web on the Jonassen's article. I certainly agree with his statement. Rich sources of information are an essential part of the CLEs and the resources can allow student to think for solving the problem. That why students are supposed to learn the information literacy.  

First of all, students need to learn how to search for information online. When students are searching for information online they will first consider using the search engine. There is so much information on the Web and also there are various web searchers. Web searchers don’t always find what they are looking for online. This is why students need to be taught about using different search tools and teachers need to allow students to explore them to know what search engine is best fit for a topic.

Second, I’m sure it is necessary for students to learn how to evaluate the information they search. Often, the Internet is likely to offer resources where the information is not both current and accurate. I think the criteria listed in chapter 5 for evaluating web resources are really informative for me and I will plan to teach the criteria to my students. Accuracy, authority, objectivity, currency and coverage are key elements in determining the quality of online information.

I think the internet is one of the best ways to retrieve information. Students are supposed to learn about information literacy and teachers are supposed to be trained in information literacy instruction.

Q1) Should all teachers who are single-subject specialists also be specialists in information literacy in their classrooms? Alternatively, do we need teachers who only specialize in teaching information literacy at schools?

Q2) What do you think about more than anything else in determining the quality of online information?

Take away message 24 Feb

When I was undergraduate student I learned about learning theories but I forgot about these essential basic theories. I believe teachers are always supposed to keep in mind about these theories. Today’s lesson was really helpful for me because I could recall the theories and realize the importance again. Behaviorism, Information processing and Constructivism are the key elements of the learning theories. These theories show how the brain works when learning information. Instructors and educators need to first consider these basic learning theories. Then they can consider applying different teaching methods. Moreover, the study of using technology in teaching builds on these learning theories.