Janna+Morrow

EDU 240 Janna's FINAL ** 1.    As **//COGNITIVE MEDIATOR//**, the educator helps students to become independent learners who construct meaning by combining new information with their own background knowledge.
 * TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION
 * Discuss two assignments that you completed using a South Dakota State Standards topic in your major area of study. Describe each program and then tell how you could use that program with your students to enhance their technology skills when you start teaching.

A. One of the assignments I created using the South Dakota State Standards was a Kidspiration. The program is designed for students to make a web with their ideas. The web can include pictures, shapes, and words. Kidspiration is a kid friendly program that has pictures tools and also has talking commands. When I am a teacher I would like to use Kidspiration to be able to have class discussions and take note of the students' responses. Using Kidspiration on a SMARTboard would be the best way to do this. I would also like to have my students create their own Kidspirations to be able to share their ideas with classmates in a visual way.

B. Another assignment I completed was the Jeopardy Game. This was created through Microsoft Power Point 2007 with a special template. The first page was the home page that had the topics and how much they are worth. So when you click on a number it would go to that slide with the question and the following slide would include the answer. Then you go back to the home page to choose another question. I would like to use this program when I am teaching to help students review before a test or at the end of a chapter. I could also have my students use this program to create their own jeopardy game to share with the class. This way the students could also learn how to create their own.

**  2.     As **//RESEARCHER//**, the educator seeks to improve educational practices within the school setting, using an inquiry approach to serve students more effectively. **  3.     As **//COMMUNICATOR//**, the educator is skilled in modes of communication that will enable effective communication and collaboration with other educators, parents, and families.
 * How has completing research in this class (reading the textbook, researching sites on the Internet, creating a presentation for class) helped you to become a better teacher candidate? Through the activities in this class I have become a better teacher candidate by learning different methods for teaching students. For example I learned how to use methods that are better for visual learners through researching sites on the Internet. From creating a presentation over three internet tools I was also able to learn how to use tools to meet the needs of students. Learning how to use Google Docs and ZOHO has shown me how I can have students start projects at school and then be able to finish them on their computer at home.
 * Discuss one Internet site and one technology program that will help you to communicate to your students and their parents when you become a teacher? Describe how you could use each one to communicate to either students or parents when you are teaching.

A. A type of internet site that I plan to use as a teacher is a wiki. I want to be able to post information and resources for my students to always have access to when they are doing homework. I also want to make it a place for students to post their own ideas. Students could make a page about a topic they are studying and then allow others in the class to add or edit the information. On a class wiki site students will also be able to ask questions to each other as well as me and be able to have discussions.

B. One technology program that will help me communicate better to my students and teachers is Microsoft Publisher. I will be able to create fast and easy newsletters to give to students and parents. In the newsletters I can give updates on activities we are doing in class and subjects we are studying. I could create a newsletter every month to help bridge the communication gap with the parents. I could also create a Publisher newsletter before we take a field trip. This is a good way to inform students and parents about when the field trip will take place and how they need to be prepared for it. **  4.     As **//EVALUATOR//**, the educator maximizes students’ learning by using a full range of formal and informal information-gathering processes in order to respond appropriately to student individual differences.
 * Discuss one web site and one technology program that you used and evaluated this semester? Why did you find each one useful and how might you use them in the classroom when you start teaching?

A. A website that I used and evaluated this semester was slideshare. This website has lots of Power Point slides already created that are available for anyone to use. This is very useful for teachers to use Power Points on a subject the class is studying without having the teacher take time to create one. I think I will use slideshare to introduce a topic we will be studying in class. This will be easy for me to use because all I need to do is find the slideshare that coresponds with the topic we are going to studying. I will not have to spend extra time creating visuals to use with my students.

B. A technology program I used and evaluated this semester was the online test maker. This program gives you the structure for creating a test and allows you to type in your own questions. You can have multiple choice, matching, true/false, or short answer questions. To make organized, professional tests the online test maker is a great tool to use. I plan to use this when I am a teacher for tests and short quizzes. I have taken many tests that are not neatly organized and difficult to follow. So I want to make sure my tests are clear and easy to follow for my students. Using the online test maker is also a time saver. Since it formats the test automatically all I will need is the content for the test and I won't have to spend extra time formatting it. **