Technology in my lesson plan and Summer Love

1)What tools would you need to add this technology to your lesson? Some things to consider would be software, number & set up of computers and presentation materials.

In order to add techonology to my lesson, I would have to have access to at least one computer, both at home and in the classroom. I would also need to have a projection screen to show the Martin Luther King Jr. video on. My students would need to have use of a computer either at home or at school within a lab in order to go onto the class website. Parents would need to have some kind of basic internet searching skill in order to navigate to the class website. Perhaps there could be some kind of training or a handout at the beginning of the year.

2)How would technology change the learning environment? How does it make the lesson more learner-centered?

Technology within the actual classroom would allow students to be visually stimulated as soon as I started the lesson. They would be able to watch a video online that would give them a clear example of how persuasive speech works. This would help students tremendously and hopefully, change their opinions about speaking in general. Also, the website would allow them to know what was goin on at all times in the classroom. Students would also be able to post their papers before they were do and be able to get feedback from their peers before turning in the assignment to me. These two aspects make the lesson more learner-centered because students are able to take things into their own minds and decide what they are going to do with them. It gives them responsibility.

3)What are some possible challenges to adding this technology and how could they be overcome?

One of the challenges would be whether or not I have a projection screen to show the video on. If I didn't, I could either just show it on the board or perhaps I could raise funding to get a projection board. Also, if students didn't have computers at home, I could make sure that they had access to computer labs after school. I would also tell them where there was computer access in the community, such as a library. I would do the same for parents.

4) What NETS for Students does this cover for your students?
NETS 1) Basic operations and concepts
Students demonstrate a sound understanding of the nature and operation of technology systems.
Students are proficient in the use of technology. My thoughts on this is that students would half to have a basic knowledge of how to access the internet and my class website.
NETS 3) Technology productivity tools
Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.
Students use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, prepare publications, and produce other creative works. My thoughts on this is that student's learning would be enhanced because they would able to view things visually, including the Martin Luther King Jr. video and the website.
NETS 4) Technology communications tools
Students use telecommunications to collaborate, publish, and interact with peers, experts, and other audiences.
Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences. My thoughts, finally, are that students would be able to present their papers in an online format in order to interact with their peers. Students would be able to review papers and make corrections. This would enable students to interact even outside the classroom.

Internet Issues and A Beautiful Lie

There are two Internet issues that I can think of that could appear when I am an educator. One could be simply the access to the Internet. This will depend on the socio-economic status of the area. If I stayed in the Kirkland/Seattle area, most of my students will have computers of their own, and if they don't, their family most assuredly will. But if I am in a poorer community, there is a higher possibility that some of the students do not have access to the Internet in their homes. When this occurs, I will have to make accommodations, whether that is showing the students that they can use the computer lab or a local library. The second issue is that students seem to be stuck in somewhat of an Internet search rut. In my experience, students use dictionary.com and Google frequently. These are easy and provide many examples, but there are so many other search engines and helpful sites online. It will be my job to educate my students in navigating the Internet in order for my classroom in to run in a more efficient manner.

Reflecting on the web conference

For my participation with the K-12 online conference, I watched a video presentation by Derek Wenmoth. He was located in Christchurch, New Zealand. He was part of an organization called Core Education, which helped to integrate technology into the classroom. He began his presentation by speaking about mirrors and how they serve to reflect many things, including our actions. As educators, we need to reflect on how we run our classroom and how we present information onto our students. His point of view was that technology is able to engage students at such a greater level as opposed to ordinary lecture/paperwork. He talked about teachers being excited when they are shown different technological items, such as the smartboard, wikis, etc. What I gleaned from this presentation was that as a future educator, I need to reflect on how I can present the information in the most pertinent way. Technology, because of the day and age that we live in, can serve in improving students mental cognition by an enormous amount. When I am a teacher, I need to make sure that I am constantly reflecting on my performance, especially when it comes to technology. Here is a link to my online conference.

http://http://k12onlineconference.org/?p=181

Inspiration software lesson

Hester Prim.isf

Hester Prim.isf

Great American Authors.

Several authors are listed on my site including Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allan Poe, Ernest Hemingway, and John Steinbeck. When the time comes for students to study the works of one of these men, I would have information readily available on my website for them to access. I would also be able to use these websites in order to glean information for my lectures and assignments. The internet is a great source of information and these website will be extremely helpful.

Great American Poets.

This list links student directly with pages of several important American poets including T.S. Eliot, Robert Browning, Robert Frost, and Emily Dickinson. There will most certainly be a section of the curriculum dedicated to American poets. Students will be able to click on the links that I have set up and go directly to sites that include works and a biography of each poet. This way students will have easy access to information and to actual works.

Writing Aids.

Each one of my students, regardless of the level, will undoubtley need some kind of help with writing papers. With these links, they will be able to access sites throughout their time in my class. Whenever they have a question about MLA or APA, they will be able to go onto my blog and instantly access the site which will answer any of the questions that they have. This way students will have to take their own intiative and depend upon themselves. They will also be able to find the correct spelling of words and references sites. Students will have plenty of information to use in their papers.

Teaching Aids.

My first year of teaching is going to be extremely hard and as such, access to other lesson plans done by experienced teachers will be extremely helpful. That is why I created a list with several links to site with sure-fire lesson plans. If my creative well-spring runs dry, I would be able to go to these sites and get new and fresh ideas. These websites are geared specifically toward high school English classes.

Great Playwrights.

These are excellent links to website about 4 prominent playwrights: Oscar Wilde, William Shakespeare, Tennessee Williams, and Arthur Miller. Throughout my years of teaching, I am bound to run into a curriculum that instructs me to do a unit on a play written by one of these men. As such, I will have these links to provide me with the text of plays, plus a biography of each man. Because I have the knowledge of these links, my students will be able to have access to them as well. This will provide them with background information and text to actually read from.

Quicksand and Web 2.0

I would love to use Web 2.0 in my classroom in a number of ways. After reading of what a technological classroom/school could look like, I could definetly see bringing technonology directly to the students. There are countless usages under Web 2.0, but I would like to focus on podcasts, blogging, and wikis. I believe that those would be the most useful within my high school English class.
The idea of recording my lectures and then posting them in the form of podcasts online completely makes sense. Students would then be able to go back and listen to my lectures in order to make sure they didn't miss anything in their notes, or to review for an upcoming test. Parents would also be able to listen to them, which could pacify their natural desire to know what thier childen are being taught.
I would also encourage my students to have online blogs, posting thier thoughts about reading assignments. The blogs would function as journals postings.
Finally, I would like to use the wikis as virtual sign up sheets. Students would be able to sign up for presentations, ect. and then be able to look online as their date approached.