NETS

=National Educational Technology Standards=

I began this class with a working knowledge of Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, but did not really know how to use Excel to its full potential. I learned some Excel basics that I did not know before. Regarding computers and the internet in general, I became overall more familiar with these systems and with that familiarity, I believe that I will better be able to use them in the future. Specifically, I learned how to save a webpage as a file; this is something that I did not know before and is something that I have used frequently since learning it in class. I have become a bit more proficient at the input device called the keyboard. My mouse abilities have stagnated, although this is not a bad thing as I believe that I am able to use the mouse quite well. I have learned how to successfully turn the sound on and off on the toolbar on the monitor because when I am the computer labs, I do not want sound to come out of the computer, but to be sure that this will not happen, I had to mute the sounds from outputting through speakers. I also think that I am able to fix routine problems with the computer; I also know that when a problem is too hard to handle, it is worth it to get an expert to fix the problem. In learning how to create a digital video, I am now able to share my ideas and lessons in a more interesting way. I also can use this idea within a lesson plan, as an assignment; something for students to create. Also, by learning how to make a wikispace and a webpage (like the one that I created through Weebly), I will be able to better provide students with resources and information, and they may also be able to create similar sites on which to research and share information. Simulations that we looked at in class, like Flight to Freedom, will be able to provide students with a more realistic experience with the specific content of slavery, as opposed to a lecture on the subject. Using programs such as this simulation will be a good way for students to become involved and active in the learning process. I think that the concept map that I created on Inspiration was one example of higher order thinking and complex thinking skills. Students could also use Inspiration to create a concept map and use the same skills that I used; thus, this class not only taught me how to use technology to achieve complex thinking skills, but it also taught me how to be prepared to teach children to do the same thing. The digital video that I created is obviously a creative work using productivity tools (Microsoft MovieMaker). Also, I was able to create a letter to parents at a future school on Microsoft Word with ClipArt and other functions of Word that I did not previously know existed. Such a letter could be collectively collaborated on by many teachers through the use of Google Docs or Zoho. Using the internet, I was able to locate and collect information such as pictures for my digital video. I could find it from many sources, some of which were more reliable than others (like the Library of Congress’ website). I was able to learn how to successfully evaluate a webpage for its usefulness and accuracy – this helped in finding sites from which to get pictures for my digital video. Students would also greatly benefit from knowing how to identify an accurate and reliable website. I was able to use Microsoft Excel to organize and evaluate information that was previously given to me. I was able to process and evaluate information based on certain defining factors, and I was able to create graphs that made it easier to visually evaluate the information. This can be useful in a classroom because I could use this tool to evaluate students’ grades. Through simulations, like the one on fruit flies that we looked at, students could see how fruit flies would multiply in the real world without actually needing to breed, and possibly lose, fruit flies – thereby avoiding a possible fruit fly invasion of the school. Also, as briefly mentioned above, students could use GoogleDocs or Zoho or other such internet based programs to collaborate on solving real world problems instead of sending emails to each other. Each person could instantly see the additions or subtractions to the document. Finally, students could participate in a WebQuest to come to a solution about a real world problem. I observed different edublogs from social studies educators and was able to notice the good things about those blogs as well as the faults. I was able to gain useful insight that I can use when I become an educator and decide to create a classroom website, whether in a blog format or not. I noticed the types of information that are acceptable for such an endeavor as well as a few hints on page layout that would be beneficial for a future site that I have, such as avoiding white space and having links clearly labeled and available. Learning how to use Google Calendar was a great help to me – if I want to post an online calendar on my classroom website, I could use a Google Calendar to seamlessly integrate it into my website. In this way, I could keep a schedule that both I and my students had access to, and this could greatly help to aide in communication. I think that I now have a large array of technological innovations at my disposal (most of which I learned in this class) and I think that I also have the appropriate knowledge to know when to use which innovation in class projects or for personal reasons. I also think that I now have enough technological knowledge to be able to adapt and incorporate new technology into my existing knowledge. This whole class helped me achieve this standard. Voicethread is a great online resource/website that enables a teacher to collaborate with students or with other teachers using photos, video, and text. A teacher could ‘voicethread’ a lesson and have other teachers critique it, or a student could ‘voicethread’ a speech and a teacher or other students could comment on it. I understand the ‘permanent-ness’ of the internet – the fact that any image posted on the internet can, possibly, be there forever because all it takes is one person to copy it and save it (and subsequently re-post it) to make it impossible for the original person to remove it from the internet. The legality of internet use is also of much concern to me as a possible teacher – many students do not seem to understand the ‘permanent-ness’ or legal issues related to the internet, unfortunately, and I hope to help them see reality before something negative happens to them. Technology can be very beneficial in supporting lifelong learning. It can enable me to learn from almost anywhere on the world, and I will never be too old to access the internet – thus never too old to collaborate with intellectuals around the world. It greatly enhances productivity – in the most simple case, it allows quick and easy revisions to text (word processing) that otherwise would involve time-consuming rewriting of the whole text. We have learned about different ways that technology can be used to help people of different abilities; to create a more level playing field. This can be done through different interactive software that may, for example, read text on the screen for the hearing impaired. Yet, we also learned that, as a teacher, we have to be aware that some students may not be able (financially) or allowed to use certain technologies. Issues such as the recent one where a middle school student committed suicide because of bad things that an ‘internet friend’ said about her and about her ‘internet boyfriend’ (both of whom turned out to be fictions of the imagination of the mother of this girl’s former friend) can really scare anybody into getting serious about internet, and technology in general, use. Yet, technology is also useful; cell phones can help in serious situations. Also, the health issues regarding technology are important. It is important not to use technology so much that it hinders one’s physical health, whether by playing too many computer games to talking on a cell phone while driving on a busy street.
 * 1. Demonstrate a sound understanding of the nature and operation of technology systems.**
 * 2. Demonstrate proficiency in the use of common input and output devices; solve routine hardware and software problems; and make informed choices about technology systems, resources, and services.**
 * 3. Use technology tools and information resources to increase productivity, promote creativity, and facilitate academic learning.**
 * 4. Use content-specific tools (e.g., software, simulation, environmental probes, graphing calculators, exploratory environments, Web tools) to support learning and research.**
 * 5. Use technology resources to facilitate higher order and complex thinking skills, including problem solving, critical thinking, informed decision making, knowledge construction, and creativity.**
 * 6. Collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, preparing publications, and producing other creative works using productivity tools.**
 * 7. Use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.**
 * 8. Use technology tools to process data and report results.**
 * 9. Use technology in the development of strategies for solving problems in the real world.**
 * 10. Observe and experience the use of technology in their major field of study.**
 * 11. Use technology tools and resources for managing and communicating information (e.g., finances, schedules, addresses, purchases, correspondence).**
 * 12. Evaluate and select new information resources and technological innovations based on their appropriateness to specific tasks.**
 * 13. Use a variety of media and formats, including telecommunications, to collaborate, publish, and interact with peers, experts, and other audiences.**
 * 14. Demonstrate an understanding of the legal, ethical, cultural, and societal issues related to technology.**
 * 15. Exhibit positive attitudes toward technology uses that support lifelong learning, collaboration, personal pursuits, and productivity.**
 * 16. Discuss diversity issues related to electronic media.**
 * 17. Discuss the health and safety issues related to technology use.**