Chapter 11 Evaluating New Teachers

Teachers can be evaluated in many different ways. Teachers can be evaluated through writing assignments that are required to be creative, analytical, or persuasive. They will be assigned individual and group projects to be reviewed. College supervisors or mentor teachers will observe new teachers in the classroom. It is important for a new teacher to give themselves self-assessments. A new teacher needs to know if their students are learning and if they are not, what changes they should make. Performance-based assessments are important in determining:

• Are lessons structured to incorporate rigorous academic content and engaging teaching methods?
• Does your language convey high expectations of your students?
• Are you meeting the needs of individual learners?
• Are you managing the class time effectively such as redirecting students' attention back to academic studies if they become distracted?
• Do you exchange questions fairly between boys and girls?

Considering the test-to performance evaluation spectrum. Which one do you think is more important?

Chapter 11 Portfolios for Teachers

• Portfolios for teachers follow patterns established in other professions.
• They are used to show collections of work that demonstrate their talents and skills to employers or customers.
• Teaching portfolios generally include the following elements:
  

Philosophy of education
Lesson Plans
Academic Courses and Research Experiences
Teaching Experience
Personal Talents and Accomplishments
References
Reflections
Video and Pictorial Segments
Resource Links
Resume

• Standards-based digital portfolios "uses a database or hypertext to clearly show the relationship between standards or goals." These type of portfolios are important for new teachers because they show the teacher has the skills to take charge in the classroom.
• Some teachers feel using standards to organize portfolio material as a checklist of requirements to accomplish. While others see it as a way to record their competencies and reflect on their growth.
  

Chapter 11 Digital Portfolios as a Learning Technology

A digital portfolio is a collection of educational materials stored in an electronic format such as a CD-ROM, website, or computer file. A digital porfolio "is a goal-driven, organized collection of artifacts that demonstrates a person's expansion of knowledge and skills over time."

There are three different types of digital or electronic portfolios currently in use. "Online assessment systems" and "print-loaded" portfolios don't take advantage of digital technology. Students store preselected pieces of work in a commercially designed template when using an "online assessment systems". A"print-loaded" portfolio simply takes the paper text and displays it electronically. "Web-sensible" portfolios use "text boxes, hyperlinking, visuals, audio texts and design elements" that convey a teacher's materials. This type of portfolio creates an interactive and constantly changing presentation.

What are your thoughts on the different portfolio options?

Chapter 10 Technology and a "Writing Process Fit to Young Writers"

Writing in school is often taught as an exercise in memorizing, editing, and manipulating of words. The emphasis is generally on standard spelling and correct usage of conventions. Students often say they don't enjoy writing in school for many reasons. They may feel they are not smart because they don't write with ease and enjoy the process of writing. Students often want to be up and moving and lack the patience necessary for writing. A lot of pressure is place on students to spell words correctly and use punctuation, grammar, and other conventions of written language appropriately.

Technology has been shown to have a positive impact on student writing performance. Technology can be used by teachers to move student through the process of brainstorming to completed publication of written work. Students must believe their ideas do matter and it help students a lot if the process is individualized in the school setting. Computer based tools maximize and differentiate support for individual writers. Teachers can read a story aloud to students while other students read using the interactive book or other students can watch a video or CD of the book the teacher is reading. All of these options are using technology simultneously and creating different openers.

Chapter 10 Interactive Electronic Storybooks

• Interactive electronic storybooks are a unique learning resource for young readers.
• They can be used for children that have identified reading problems or a new reader that has no difficulties.
• They work by combining words and pictures of a book with sound effects and graphic animations.
• Interactive Electronic Storybooks allow children to hear a story read aloud as they watch it unfold on the computer screen. Children are able to interact with the characters and the scenes by clicking a mouse.
• Some of the advantages of Storybooks are the visual elements create an engaging mood that appeal to children. Reading comprehension skills can be improved because those skills are a focal point of many electronic books.
• Some of the disadvantages are children may become dependent on the computer to pronounce unknown words instead of trying to figure them out on their own. Cued animations and sound effects can hinder understanding because children have a hard time recalling the story.

Would you as a teacher use Interactive Storybooks in the classroom?

Discussion Blog Two

With everything we have learned in tech class what do you really think you will use in your classroom? I myself will use the smartboard everyday. I like the website for my clssroom. I feel it is a good way for the parents to stay connected. I like the blog for coworkers but don't think I will use it in my classroom with my students.
As for a prezi I really don't think I will use it in my classroom or with other teachers. I was not impressed with prezis.

Discussion Blog 1

I agree that schools should band cell phones. I feel that the students really don't need to be calling or texting anyone during the six hours that they are in school. I would have to agree about it being a distraction to teachers and other students.

Chapter 10 Promoting Success for All students through Technology

Differentiated Instruction and universal design for learning

Means teachers create different educational experiences as a way to meet the specific needs of students.
Readiness
Interest
Learning Profile
Affect
Are four areas differentiated arise



Universal design for learning
Multiple means of representation
Multiple means of expression
Multiple means of engagement


Technology to reach all learners

Electronic speller and dictionary

Type in a word and the machines voice speaks aloud a succinct, understandable definition of the term as well.

Speech Recognition software

Translates a persons spoken words into written text on a computer.

Text reading

Text to speech software lets a computer user hear written text aloud by the computer.


I think that these programs and machines should be available for all students that need the extra help or impaired, so that they all can succeed ! I think not only do the students benefit from these machines but teachers have more success rates in their classrooms.

Chapter 9 Interactive Whiteboards

Interactive whiteboards allow for both the teacher and the students to interact during a lesson and write their ideas on the board. The teacher then can save the lesson onto the computer for future lessons. The whiteboards allow students to draft their own analyses of literature. With them being interactive with the whiteboards teacher have found that students improve in writing. You can also used the whiteboards for discussion with photographs, painting, and other resources, generating even more visual and digital intelligences of students.

The thought of students being able to interact in a lesson is wonderful. I only hope that when I start my career my classroom will have an interactive whiteboard.



Do you think that all classroom should have interactive whiteboards? Will you use interactive whiteboards in your classroom.?

Chapter 9 Powerpoint advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

Gives a visual dimension to class presentations. Easy to use and available on most schools computers. Text can be combined with pictures, charts, graphs, and other images that are interesting and entertaining. They can also include links from internet resources, and music from u-tube. A short look at the lesson you want to teach.


Disadvantages:

Cannot take the place of in depth discussions. Teachers need time to spend entering the materials before showing it. Computer screens can contain so much information that the students become distracted from the main idea. Students can lose intereat in the presentaion.

Personally I feel that students will keep their interest in the presentaion using power point, although it will take more time to prepare the inforamtion you want to teach. I think the number of students interested in the presentation is more so then the ones that will lose interest or be distracted.

Will you as a teacher use powerpoint? If not why?

Chapter 9 Alphabet Books

Alphabet books are student made books designed to teach spelling patterns, letter sounds, vocabulary words and reading skills.

Each students alphabet photograph displays the standard spelling of students names with a possessive apostrophe and an item ( A noun) making letter- sound connections it teaches

* letter sounds association
* The term noun
* The possessive apostrophe
* the spelling of children's name

You can also use this process with verbs alphabet The lanuage concepts are repeated throughtout the process that it becomes memorable to young students, because they are the stars of the photographs. Teachers can vary the alphabet every two months making for a new learning experience for the students.

Do you think as a teacher you would use alpahbet books?

Chapter 8 Establish email connections

By establishing email connections to libraries, museums and universities students again knowledge by asking questions and getting answers. By asking question about any number of topics and get responses from experts in that field.

Initiate email correspondence with elected officials and other public policy markers.
Emails offer a way for students to express their views to public officials. In subjects like English or Social Studies students can prepare a cogent written argument advocating a change in government policy.

I really think it is a great idea to allow the students to express their views of public officials. I think it is a good way to get them ready for the government policies they will face in their adulthood. I think that it's important that the students know that everyone's voices matters in a democratic society.

Do you think that this can also have a negative effect on the students?

Chapter 8 Email and Instant Messaging

Both of these are examples of communication technologies.

53 million Americans use instant messaging and the numbers are growing. They have grown 29% since 2000. Americans sent nearly 160 billion text messages in 2006 alone, double the number in 2005.
Adolescents and children are the largest consumers of email and instant messages technologies.

Text space an abbreviated collection of symbols and letters that are used for quick communication when using cell phone or instant messages on a computer.

Teenage girls are the most frequent users of email technology at 93% .

Instant messaging is use mostly by people under the age of 27. 1 out of 3 adults age 28 to 69 use instant messaging.

Strategies for using email and IM with your students.
Using systems like password protected student communication to minimize the risks exploitative merchandiser, scam artists, political extrmists, predatory individuals.

How can Email and instant messaging be used in the classroom? Well teachers feel that by using these students can become better spellers, more aware of the patterns of word sounds and the structures of word spelling.

In my oppion I feel that these can not help them learn to spell? How do you think it teaches them the skills they need to be sucessful?

Chapter 8 Wikis as a Collaborative Learning Strategy

• A wiki is a website that is collaboratively edited and maintained by a group of people.
• Wiki users can edit the content within the Wiki anyway they want. They also have the ability to re-organize and update the structure of a Wiki.
• Wikis are designed for collective writing and editing that lead to high levels of interaction among students.
  
• There are many benefits for using wikis in the classroom. Some of those benefits include using technology in a meaningful way, it allows for peers and colleagues to collaborate together, and it allows students to receive feedback about their learning.
• The use of Wikis can foster a collaborative learning environment that mirrors how problems are solved in real life. Students can learn problems are not solved alone because one person can't know enough to completely solve complex social and technological problems.
• Teachers can create a "standards wiki" that will include a collection of academic information and class notes in order to meet teaching standards set by the state.

What are your thoughts on Wikis be used as a Collaborative Learning Strategy?

Chapter 8 Websites and Blogs for Teachers and Students

• Teacher websites generally focus on the teacher's educational career. They may also include information on the students work in the classroom.
• Classroom websites generally focus on the activities in the classroom and more attention is given to the work of the students versus the teacher.
• Teacher blogs can provide interactive communication between teachers or between students and teachers.
• Blogs can be used to provide administrative information to students or parents such as classroom requirements, homework, grades, and special activities happening at the school.
• Blogs can also be used as an instructional tool beyond the classroom. Teachers can ask questions and have discussions with their students. They can post websites related to the subject they are studying in the classroom.

Do you plan on using a Teacher/classroom website or blog in the classroom?

The House Series

The house series is a well known examples of skills- learning games.

Here are a few titles, Millie's Math House, Trudy's Time and Place Home, Bailey's Book House and Sammy's science House

Sammy Science programs there are several different options in each area so the program is constantly offering kids activities they have not tried before.

In Sammy's Science House it also develops reading and math skill's within the context of the program's puzzles and activities. Students learn science concepts and vocabulary while manipulating thermometers, wind speeds and precipitation.

I really think that this program is great allowing the students to engage in all the skill subjects. To be able to engage in science, reading and math all at the same time is the way to go.

What is your thoughts on this?

Skills- Learning Games

Skills- learning games use elements of game play to involve students in learning academic material.

Math teaching Games provide students in addition, subtraction, multiplication, division as well as teaching fact families and mental facts.

The advantages of these games it has the students focus on high score point totals while practicing math skills with out the student realizing they are gain new knowledge.

Others say that the student don't get the joy out of learning because they are to busy worried about just the points. They feel that the mathematical thinking, problem solving is missing from the activity. The game teaches skills but not the intellectual frameworks for connecting and applying those skill's in solving problems.

I feel that sometimes a student needs away to make them want to learn, and if interacting with a math games is what it takes then let them play it. I feel that as long as they are grasping some steps that its better than none at all.

What is your thought about using math games ? Do you think it doesn't apply skills for solving problems?

Chapter 7 Computer games as learning resources

Computer games whether on software, video game players or the web share six characteristics:
Rules, goals and objectives, outcome and feedback, conflict, interaction, representation or story.
Computer games reach into almost every home and classroom for several reasons;

Multiple delivery system.

Highly publicized connections between games and products that promote interest across age groups and grade level.

Ability to absorb children's attention.

Debates about games and gaming

Some view that computer game even the learning one are harmful distraction from the process of developing fluent reading, writing and thinking skills among children.

Other educators see positive educational impacts from video and computer game play saying that they are learning a new literacy one how to read visual images on screen.

What is your opinions on the debate about games?

Chapter 6 WebQuests and Virtual Field Trips by Tonja

• Webquest are online inquiries by students-designed and guided by teachers.
  

Designing Successful WebQuests

• WebQuests include five stages: Stage setting, task, process, evaluation, and conclusion.
  

• Design a successful WebQuest demands four considerations:
  

Who are your students and what are they capable of doing?

What are the primary ideas you are wanting to teach?

How will students at different skill levels productively work together?

Is Technology integrated seamlessly into the assignment?

Taking Virtual Field Trips

• Virtual field trips take students all over the world without them leaving the classroom or school.

• Colonial Williamsburg, Baseball Hall of Fame, Smithsonian Institution are a few places they can go.

What benefits do you think students gain when Virtual Field Trips are used in the classroom?

Chapter 6 Educational Websites as Teaching Resources by Tonja

● Educational website are designed with learning goals in mind.

● Lesson plan website-teachers can find helpful lesson plans with step-by-step methods and procedures.

● Student-to-expert website-tel-mentoring and e-tutoring are other forms of online communication.

● E-tutoring- focuses on specific help with homework and class project.

● Real-time data websites provides opportunities for students to enter a setting as an involved observer.

● Archival and primary sources websites allow students to conduct contemporary or historical investigations.

● Skills practice website-teacher assign students at the computer with educational software while directly working with other students.

Should cell phones be banned in school?

I think they should be banned in schools. I feel they are a distraction for students and take away from the learning process. I'm sure lots of time is spent sending text messages rather then paying attention to the teacher. A parent knows during the day where there child is and they can contact their child through the school if there is an emergency.

Chapter 6 Bookmarking for Teachers

Prior to computers teachers would use file folders, notebooks, and other types organizing systems. This was not always a very efficient system and could be very time consuming. Teachers can now utilize bookmarking tools on their computers. These tools give the teacher the ability to electronically catalog and access Web pages with one simple command. The internet has lots of interesting websites that can lead to people becoming distracted. A person can skip having to retrace their steps and simply bookmark websites that interest them for future use.

Social bookmarking works along the same concept as individual bookmarking. A library of resources are available to many readers and allows others to add to the list.

What are you thoughts about teachers utilizing social bookmarking?

Plagiarism by Julie

Plagiarism is the direct copying and misrepresentation of someones' work. Plagiarism happens due to three main reasons. The web has created a marketplace for students to purchase term papers. High-stakes testing has created an environment that has invited plagiarism due to the importance of those tests, high grades on student transcripts, and competition for college placement. Misassumptions by students can lead to plagiarism because students don't realize they have crossed over the line. They can also feel intimidated about their understanding of the material and feel it's better just to copy the material.

What are your thoughts or concerns about Plagiarism?

Wikipedia: An Online Encyclopedia by Julie

Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia with a worldwide collection of authors. There are more then 1.5 million entries. Anyone can submit an entry to Wikipedia. The website is managed by a staff of 1,000 volunteers who evaluate each entry and decide what gets posted. Wikipedia considers it a benefit to everyone to utilize an open and participatory process versus the traditional practices used in bound and printed encyclopedia. Many people worry that Wikipedia doesn't use recognized experts to serve as referees of the knowledge selection process.

What are your thoughts or concerns about Wikipedia?

Information Problems & Responses by Tonja

• Misinformation is information that is false, out of date, or incomplete.
• Malinformation is what reasonable people might think is bad or harmful information.
• Messed-up information is information that is poorly organized and presented.
• Mostly useless information is information that focuses on the trivial.

People generally find it necessary to use one of the following information management and control strategies to deal with the issues mentioned above.

• Censorship is used to ban material that is considered offensive.
• Filtering software is used to block material from computers by identifying certain objectionable keywords or phrases.
• Partitions restrict access only through pages that themselves are lists of approved sites.
• Labeling systems attempt to identify material that is safe for children.
• Critical reading teaches everyone how to read online material and decide for themselves its usefulness or appropriateness.

Welcome to Tonja and Julie's teaching blog. We are enrolled at Edison College working towards our Elementary Education degree.