Digital Blog Post H: Chapter 9

Here are the three most inspiring concepts, in my opinion, from Chapter 9:

1. Comparing Minimal and Multimedia Classroom Technologies
2. Strategies for Using PowerPoint with Students
3. YouTube, Handcrafted Videos, and Streaming Video Resources

Technology sure has come a long way and when you compare how it was years ago to what it now is a huge difference, especially inside the classroom.  An example of this is when I was in elementary, and we still used these old light projectors where the teacher would right on plastic sheet on the overlay and then start righting stuff with a marker; a lot of the time my teachers would constantly be readjusting the light so that the student could see the notes properly.  Now in days we do not have the sort of problems anymore, we now use screen projectors that shows directly from a computer screen, and the teacher can easily adjust the setting to where it is big enough for everyone to see.  So basically multimedia technology has improved our classrooms much more ethically, but to be fair the minimal technologies still did their jobs for that time; now I cannot help but wonder what some of the next classroom technologies will revolutionize the way we learn.

PowerPoint in the classrooms is probably not my favorite tool to use, because when teachers ask us to use PowerPoint they are usually expecting a very flashy presentation, and using all those different visual aids always confused me.  Some people might say that PowerPoint is very useful when displaying information in regards to something like a science project, but I also have found that a video can be just as informative and interactive for the viewers, and you do not have to constantly be messing around the with sound display.  I do find that PowerPoint is useful for displaying notes for a lesson because when students are done with one slide the teacher can just click to the next slide of notes and information.  I guess PowerPoint might be fun and creative to some people, but to me they often uninteresting and all of the colorful animations do not make the lesson anymore interesting to me.

YouTube videos, I see more and more teachers these days using these to aid in their classrooms to make lessons seem more interesting and fun for the students, and it often has different instructional videos on how assist students from more than one perspective.  Despite my enjoyment in watching instructional YouTube videos I really do not enjoy Streaming Videos that much since they often occur in real-time, and therefore you cannot go back and view something if you missed.  When I watch an online video I prefer to take my time and watch carefully, sometimes I will even go back to hear something again if I did not understand it the first time, so streaming videos I do not really care for because the whole the sensation of watching a video is being able to go back and watch a certain part again if we need to.

Here is I a small I made:
https://create.kahoot.it/#quiz/b19ab2a6-e4c1-4ec3-9a31-93f5e70e57bc/done

References 
Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Digital Blog Post G: Chapter 10

Here are the three distinct concepts from chapter 10 that intrigued me the most:

1. Online Language Translation Services
2. Universal Design for Learning
3. Interactive Electronic Storybooks and Storybook Apps

Probably one of the most beneficial aspects with technological advancements is using it to decipher foreign languages in and outside of a classroom.  There is no doubt in my mind that I will eventually have students who will respect an alien language I am not familiar with, but thanks to something like Google Translate, I can translate my language into the student's native tongue and vice-versa.  I already know some Spanish and German, but there may come a day where a student  speaks a dialect that I am not familiar with like Japanese Kansai, but just because I hold the position of a teacher does not mean that I am always going to be the one teaches new lessons.  One of my views of a teacher is a two way street, the teacher does most of the teaching, but at the same time they are learning about new cultures based on the diversity they work with.  It is definitely thanks to things like online translations that can make a educator motivated to learn a new language over time and make students and parents feel more welcomed to new environment.

Universal design was one of my favorite topics to discuss in school, just talking about how all of our minds process information in different ways always makes for an informative discussion.  The concepts surrounding universal design for learning is what is allowing children with disabilities to expand their learning horizon.  Before our current advancements, I am positive that many students with disabilities were given lower expectations because of their deficits, but know thanks things like assistive/adaptive technologies more of these students are offered even greater opportunities.  With the help of devices like hearing aids, students with auditory disabilities can know engage in more learning and social activities since the device enhances their hearing abilities to a greater level.  Looking for new ways to improve the ability to learn for disabled students is just another reason why the concept of universal design is something that more schools should take the time into practicing.

Here is another informative concept that I am already familiar with, interactive electronics.  Based on what I understand interactive technologies can range from apps to video games and that they intend to offer more visual learning methods to assist students.  Something like this can easily apply to the universal design topic, as interactive electronics can assist students who have learning deficits such as ADHD, and because a lot of these games can stimulate the brain's learning productivity makes me wonder why a lot of schools are not blending it into their curriculum.  I know schools just thinks video games are just cartoon silliness, but to me it is more than just null curriculum, it is a gateway to learning experience for students who have hard time concentrating as it is; I mean what is seriously more interesting: written examples on a board or colorful screens loaded with fun characters?  I know one way or another video games are definitely going to be apart of my curriculum.


References Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.
Garza, R. (October 18, 2015) Websites created with ToonDoo. http://www.toondoo.com/MyToondoo.toon

Digital Blog Post F: Chapter 8

These are the three concepts from Ch. 8 that I found to be most informative:

1. Social Networking for Educators
2. Strategies for Using Email and Texting
3. Strategies for Moderating Online Discussions

I guess one way to view social networking for educators is just teachers using the internet to chat with other teachers and students.  From my perspective an online class is basically a social network for students and teacher, as they communicate together to ask questions and carry the task of completing assignments through online messaging rather than physical interaction.  Granted, the concept of using social networking during a physical class is most likely unnecessary, unless the student is instructed the teacher to do otherwise.  Social networking for some students make interaction with teachers a lot easier for them, but for me I do prefer physical conversations between teachers and students because it allow for teachers to form proper friendships with students which will provide them with longer lasting impressions.

Now I did not know that there were actual strategies for emails and text, but I guess there is good amount of reasoning behind when it comes to who you are addressing in the email or text.  If I was sending a email or text to my instructor then it would most wise to approach them with an email that shows professionalism that indicates the seriousness of the message.  I would NEVER send a message to a teacher that addresses them in the same casual manor I would do with a family member or friend, as teachers are the superiors and therefore needed to be treated with the utmost respect that they expect our their students.  When I become an educator I know would expect my students to message in the same regards if they were speaking to me in the classroom.

Lastly, there is the concept that help builds adequate relationships and learning new information in the social networking administration known as online discussions.  For me, online discussions can either be very interesting and helpful or boring and not very informative based on how in-depth the discussions are.  Another problem I have had with online discussions before is that when people apply their opinions in discussions that are only supposed to be based on scientific facts and evidence.  Overall online discussions are without a doubt very useful when proper guidelines are set in place to provide the required criteria for the discussions.

Photo credit to Jon Mott on Flickr

References 
 Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Digital Blog Post E: Chapter 7

The are three concepts from Chapter 7 that I found to be most intriguing:

1. Evaluation Criteria
2. Building, Inventing, and Creating Software
3. Debates about Games and Gaming

Sometimes finding the best software can be a challenge and this section does offer some helpful methods to evaluating software, but I actually have some of my own, simpler methods for evaluation.  For me,what of the first things I do before looking for software is start by reading reviews on a particular product, and with the help of this I can analyze what most people will specifically say about product, usually what one of the reoccurring flaws with the product like slow downloads or a very small storage capacity.  From there I start to actually look up the product and I look at the demographics it incorporates such as the RAM, storage, and processing abilities.  Then comes the final decision as to what do I specifically need in a software, which does not always include the bells and whistles that make some appear more desirable, but anyone can have their own of evaluating software.

The concept of building software also struck my attention, as building my own software is something I did not give much thought into.  I am sure that building any kind of software is not easy, and especially challenging when trying to meet specific demands for a classroom, as there could be a need for virtual and interactive components for the curriculum.  Perhaps it could be something as simple as building a small website for students to navigate, or could be more advance than that like composing an interactive video.  Building my own software sounds both fun since I can create what I want my students to learn, but at same time I wonder if I actually have the skills to create something complex that is both educational and enjoyable for the students to utilize.

Of course one of the most interesting aspects about the concept of using video games as part of a curriculum, are the debates surrounding it.  People are always going to debate that certain games are too violent or adult oriented for their kids, but of course those games are not affiliated with educational games anyway.  When talking about video games for school uses I think more along the lines like Jump Start games I use to play in school, they taught about math, reading, and how to work together with others to reach a common goal.  I would definitely like so see more schools utilize more video games because in my opinion it makes a student think more deeply about their decisions and what is the best course of action when they hit a roadblock.
 
References:
Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Garza, R. (October 4, 2015) Websites created with ToonDoo. http://www.toondoo.com/MyToondoo.toon