Blog Journal #8

Chapter eight dealt mostly with security issues, ethics and emerging technologies. One thing that I truly found to be most useful in regards to today’s computers was the section on viruses. Because of many programs today that allow you to download music, movies, pictures, games, and much more it makes it much more likely for you to bring viruses into your computer. Hackers and people that send viruses are becoming more intelligent in the ways they deliver viruses, and they are being more difficult to identify and get rid of. There are many software programs that you can purchase in order to prevent or get rid of viruses, although they must be updated on a regular basis as viruses are becoming increasingly advanced. It is now necessary to inform students about these viruses and several ways that they can attract them in order to prevent a hardship or crash in your computer.

I guess I am the type of person that needs to learn the hard way because since my last blog post I received a virus on my computer and had to send it away to be fixed. I had kept getting pop ups for while stating that my Norton Anti-Virus protection had expired, but I decided to put it off. It was not a very good idea on my part because I attracted a “Trojan” virus and could not get rid of it by simply purchasing Norton again and running it. I had to send my computer back home to Miami, so my family’s computer technician can fix it for me. It is a frustrating problem that I am sure can be fixed by a few simply procedures, but they have to be taught in order for them to be prevented.

I recently discovered that there are many “free” anti-viruses on the internet that you can download, and my recommendation is that you do not use them. There is small print that you should read in detail before downloading it. For example many are only thirty day trials, or they do not protect or even detect all or major viruses. Therefore it is worth the money to go out there and buy one. The only free antivirus downloadable from the internet that I have found to work amazingly well is called AVG. I have it on my desktop in Miami and have never really had a major problem with the computer. I do not know if we have been lucky but the anti-virus has certain protected the computer. AVG is free for an entire year and informs you when there are updates available. Now I know that you should now be lazy when it comes to getting a proper antivirus on your computer because it can cause severe damages to your computer.

Blog Journal #7

In chapter 6 we read about curriculum and ASSURE models. Curriculum is what you teach a class and what points they are expected to know at the end of a certain period of time. ASSURE model stands for:

Analyze learners
State objectives
Select Instructional methods, media, and materials
Utilize methods, media, and materials
Require learner participation
Evaluate and revise

This is a process that teachers now use in order to teach a lesson effectively. ASSURE means that you "A" must know who your students are. What is their grade level and how they learn best. Next you have to say what you want the students to learn, for example set a goal for the students. After you must pick some technology to integrate into your lesson and then use those forms of media. In addition you must have your students participate, and then test their knowledge of everything you have taught.

Some skills I have learned since my last class was how to create a website. The last project was the wiki project, and we had to create a web source with information on any topic teaching other teachers how to instruct a certain topic. It was interesting because I had never created a website before. We inserted information, included pictures, created hyper links to additional helpful web sources, created links to previous pages and the home page, etc. It ended up being a very useful tool. Not only is it helpful to teach teachers how to instruct a certain lesson, but it is useful to post information for your students. As a teacher you can create a website that your students can visit for additional help and information.

The internet is a very useful tool. Teachers today can create websites, what we learned to do last class, in order to help students gain additional information online. You can post information that will help students study for a test, it can have links to additional helpful websites, reinforcement information, and many other tools that can help a student learn the lesson. It is a universal tool that can not only be used in the classroom, but can be used at home. If a child forgot a certain piece of information they can look it up on the class website, or they can even possibly check their homework. In addition it is a good way to ensure that your students are always updated with the accurate information. For example there can no longer be any excuses of "I forgot to write my homework down" or "I left my book here in the class room". It will no longer be valid. If a child did either of those two things they would just then go online and get the information they are missing from this website.

Blog Journal #6

Digital Media Software is a program used on a computer that used multimedia elements, that usually include interaction and is therefore referred to also as interactive digital media. Digital Media Software accepts instructions from an input device such as a keyboard, mouse, or microphone and then acts according to those instructions. For example when children play video games today they use a control to tell the computer what to do. These types of interactive programs are made for video games today and computers as well. There are many games that children can play that can help them learn new facts and ideas about any given topic. When playing a game children do not realize that they are learning, and do not resist to playing because they are having fun. These programs that children can learn and play at the same time are called educational software application. These applications help students to reinforce information in an enjoyable way.

The last project that we had to do was the Web Source Evaluation. It helped me to realize that you cannot believe everything you read on the internet because anyone with a computer can create a website. We had to create an evaluation sheet to help students figure out if the web source they are using for their project is a valid source of information. The evaluation included information such as the currency of the website, the authority, the accuracy, the objectivity, and the relevance. A student, or any researcher, should use these five topics before quoting any information from a website.

Not only can children have stimulation in a classroom through the teacher intergrading technology in the classroom, but today the majority of students have programs and applications to help them learn at home. There are many video games and computer software that a child can have at home to help them review a lesson. As a child one of my favorite computer games was Oregon's Trail, and I used to play it all the time. It was a game in which you would go through a town on the east coast, a colony, and buy items to help you move west. You had to buy food and supplies to help your family and friends make it the whole trip west. Then after you have finally bought everything you needed, then you would begin your journey. The game would simulate your trip west, and many events would occur that would happen to the people of that time period. You had to hunt for food, cross rivers, decide what to do when someone died, there were epidemics and disease outbreaks, and all of this helped me to understand the day in the life of a settler who moved west. It is games such as this one that children can play in order help them fully realize the reality and understand the information.

Blog Journal #5

There are many ways today that a teacher can integrate technology, with the help of computers, televisions, smart boards, games, the internet, and so much more. It is no longer necessary to stand in front of the class and just simply lecture for an hour. The internet, for example, has an unlimited supply of games, interesting information, and interactive websites that students can see and it can help stimulate them so they comprehend the lesson more. In many schools today the computer of the teacher is hooked up to a television, overhead projector, or smart board in the front of the classroom to make it visible for the entire class. It is not necessary for every single student to have their own computer. In addition there are many movies and television shows that can help improve a lesson as well. Over the summer I took Teaching Diverse Populations and I had to evaluate a TV show that would help improve a lesson. Therefore I evaluated a children's show that is called Dora the Explorer, and after I watched a few episodes I saw how this could stimulate a child. From one episode alone the child gets reinforcements of memorization, counting, Spanish vocabulary, geography, chronological order, and much more.

The last class we did a project that we had to search the internet for a few specified topics. I learned that you have to carefully word what you search in order too get the exact information that you are looking for. In addition I learned of a few websites that will be very helpful to me when I begin teaching, such as yahooligans.com. Not only are search engines helpful to teachers, but there are websites where teachers post lesson plans online in order to help other teachers with their lessons. As a teacher you do not simply have to rely on the textbook provided by the school, but you can also use technology to add extra information to stimulate the children's minds.

Children today are growing up with technological advancements all around them. They have certain tools that we did not have when we were growing up. In order to help reach them on a personal level, so that you can help then understand a lesson you have to be up to date with the current technology. Children are stimulated by technology, computers, and television therefore that will help them to learn and stay interested. I had an experience with a teacher who simply photocopied worksheets and passed them out to the children in packets. The entire day the students had to complete the worksheet and then they graded it as a class. There was no stimulation, no integrating technology, or anything of that sort. The students dreaded going to class, and did not have any fun in the classroom. I realize that there is a time to work and a time for fun, but wouldn't it be awesome if your students loved your class and couldn't wait to come. If you entertain them with a variety of teaching techniques you will have their attention and cooperation.