Module 2 Digital Literacy

I choose to read an article entitled, What Does "Technology Integration" mean? (Here is the link:
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/meaning-tech-integration-elementary-mary-beth-hertz) I choose this article to help me meet my goal of integrating more technology into the classroom. One of my issues is finding time to teach the standards as well as integrate technology into what is being taught because I that is what I am told to teach. I love to use technology in the classroom, and my students are good with technology. However I have a difficult time with this because we have computers on wheels (COWS)  that have to be used by everyone in the building.
The article starts by defining technology integration as technology being taught in one class and integrating into the classroom. Students use what they learn in a technology class as well as a math class.  The students have to be able to show understanding of a math concept as well as their expertise of the technology used.
I am lucky enough to have a set of COWS in my classroom on a daily basis.  Students use these as a "free time" resource.  They also use them to do research. For example my class is researching a person right now. 
The article goes on to give for levels of integration.  The first level is sparse. This level students rarely get to use technology or it is not available.  The second level of integration is basic.  This level technology is used or available occasionally. Students are comfortable with creating projects that show understand of a  specific content, but are only comfortable with only a couple of tools. The third level is comfortable. Technology is used on a regular basis.  Students are comfortable with a variety of tools and use these tools to create a project that shows understand the content. The final level is seamless and in this level technology is used daily to use a variety of tools to finish assignments and  create projects that show understanding of content.
I believe that my class is at a basic level.  My students have created a power point presentation.  The students know how to do research as well as find academic games on the Internet. The students can also use word to write a paper. Most of my students can save, name, and find a file. However we only get to use the computers occasionally because the COWS are for everyone in the building, so even though I house a set of cows in my room other teachers can use them at any time.
My goal to integrate more technology in the classroom.  One way I am going to do this to move from the basic to the comfortable is to first teach my students how to type using the home row versus the hunt and peck method.  Another way is to find ways to have students do presentations of content taught in the classroom to show understanding of the content.  I will try to do this by using some of the things we have learned such as a comic strip or a blog.  Some issues that I am facing is the IT department will not allow blogs to be created for educational use.  I am still fighting this.  My goal by the end of next year is to be at this point as I get to follow my fifth graders to sixth grade.  This will also help because sixth graders have to take ISTEP multiple choice on line. I am excited to find ways to integrate technology into the classroom even though I will have to learn new content as well as new ways to integrate the technology into the classroom.

B) Basic	Technology is used or available occasionally—often in a lab rather than the classroom. Students are comfortable with one or two tools and sometimes use these tools to create projects that show understanding of content.
C) Comfortable	Technology is used in the classroom on a fairly regular basis. Students are comfortable with a variety of tools and often use these tools to create projects that show understanding of content.
D) Seamless	Students employ technology daily in the classroom using a variety of tools to complete assignments and create projects that show a deep understanding of content.

B) Basic	Technology is used or available occasionally—often in a lab rather than the classroom. Students are comfortable with one or two tools and sometimes use these tools to create projects that show understanding of content.
C) Comfortable	Technology is used in the classroom on a fairly regular basis. Students are comfortable with a variety of tools and often use these tools to create projects that show understanding of content.
D) Seamless	Students employ technology daily in the classroom using a variety of tools to complete assignments and create projects that show a deep understanding of content.

Video Reflection Part 3 Goal

My goal is to continue to add technology to the classroom so students can become better collaborators as well as problem solvers. 

Sorry I did this in three posts, but working this late messes me up.

Module 4 Video Reflection part 2

I chose to watch the video Big Thinkers: James Paul Gee Grading with Games.  http://www.edutopia.org/james-gee-classroom-simulations
In this video the speaker, James Paul Gee, talked about how video games are problem solving and assessments all wrapped in one.  The player (student) gets to learn by trail and error and then faces the boss which is the assessment. Video games do not separate skills and assessments.  These are embedded into the game.
The video also discussed the idea of modern media converging.  This is where a particular subject such as Transformers is produced in more than one media. Transformers are action figures, games, movies, TV shows, and books.
Finally the video talks about a new shift for change from test prep and skill and drill to problem solving with collaboration.  If we do not do this we will fail our students. Making the students cheap workers in other countries.

video reflection Module 4

The video "Midevial Help Desk" was hysterical.  This is how I feel when something new comes out. I don't know how to work it.  My way is to play with the new device until I have figured it out.  On the other hand I have a collegue at work that asks for help and has to be shown several time like the person in the video several times before she understands how to operate the new device.

The video " Piano stairs was funny to see people change just because the stairs made noise.  The people seemed to enjoy the stairs because of the "music" they made by walking up and down the stairs.  In America this would help decrease the weight gain if we could find something to entertain people as the stairs did in the video.

The last video reminded me of a writing prompt we wrote on in our class last week.  The prompt was to persuade the schools to allow cellphones in the classrooms.  As I read these prompts written by my students, I realized that the kids that have cellphones now don't use them just as phones, but also as a way to get information.  The video reminded me of this as I watched it.  The video also remined that my 4 year old can do a lot more technology related activities then I can. She is learning through trail and error.  I need to follow in her steps.

TeacherTube

I have shown my 4th and 5th graders teacher tube.  They love it.  The students are now using to help them with math concepts that I have taught, but they don't understand.  I like this because they are learning to impower themselves to learn what they need to know. This is great as well because they are using it when they are absent to learn the material.  I was very excited about this.