April 6 - Internet Safety and Cyber Ethics

What:

This past class period we learned about different areas of Internet Safety such as: Sexting, Cyber Bulling and Cyber Ethics.

So What:

For me as a student this is something that I need to be aware of so that I am properly trained in dealing with when I face it in the classroom as a teacher. I think that these topics need to be taught to prospective teachers because for the most part these were not necessarily issues when I was in high school but they are very real issues now. I need to learn about these different areas so that I most importantly know what they are and how to identify a problem when it arises.

Now What:

For me as a teacher, I need to be on the look-out for these kinds of situations. Like I mentioned earlier, these were not issues when I was in high school but for the kids now it is. Teachers need to not only make sure they know about these issues when they arise, they need to know how to contact the parents and proper authorities when needed. This is also bigger then just the classroom. I believe that school should be teaching the parents about what kinds of things they need to look out for at home. The is is that most kids spend more time in the classrooms with teachers then they do at home with their families. Often times parents have no idea what kinds of things their child is up to when they leave the house every morning. I think that if we not only educate the student but educate the parents as well then all will benefit. The line between the students school life and private/personal life is such a thin line. That is why incorporating all who are involved in the student's life will create a positive learning environment for the student both at home and in the classroom.

23 March - Digital Story

What:

This project was to create a digital story that answered a particular question pertaining to our different content areas.

So What:

This is a great tool for doing something creative with the research that has been collected. In general this is a great way for teachers to share their ideas with each other as well. This type of project can be used in so many different capacities.

Now What:

I really enjoyed completing this assignment. This is something that intend to bring into my own classroom. In history we spend so much time researching different topics and if students are simple asked to write paper after paper then they get bored and get less out of it. Having them do something like a digital story will help them put the history that they have learned into action. Essentially, they are bringing history alive. Students only tend to pay attention to information that they can relate to or/and they are enjoying learning.

This is also a great way to bring technology into the classroom. The fact is is that our society is going more toward a technology filled life then ever before. When I was in high school I remember when we got our first computer lab in our school. Now something like that pretty much comes standard. Some classrooms themselves come supplied with enough laptops for everyone in the class. This is such a great opportunity for students to learn about these kinds of technological advancements. This will in turn help prepare them for the ever-changing "real world"

This would also be a great opportunity to unite the department. Often times there are multiple teachers teaching the same subject. This way the teachers would be able to compare and contrast where in the unit each classes are. The teachers would be able to see whether or not they have truly understood the content that was being taught.

2 March - Digital Story part 1

What:

We learned how to create a digital story to use in several different capacities in our classrooms. We learned how to add narration as well as much to add to the emotional effect of the stories.

So What:

This is an excellent way for me as a student to be able to prepare my history projects in a fun and dramatic way. I really liked how in the examples that we saw there was so much emotions that was conveyed. This is a great way for anyone's story to be told.

Now What:

I am looking forward to completing my own digital story. I am very much looking forward to doing this assignment either in my class or for my class. I think that this would be a great way to bring technology into the classroom. If it fit into the curriculum schedule and the tools were available I would love to have my students create a digital story of their own. A story like this require a lot of research with is an important tool for students to learn.