Journal #4

"Seven Steps to Successful Online Learning Communities" by Maureen Brown Yoder
This article discusses seven strategies to help teachers provide their students with a high quality online communication experience. The strategies deal with curriculum planning, encouraging a positive social climate, understanding the unique nature of online communication, encouraging good reading and writing skills, dealing with inappropriate behavior and attitudes, and using effective facilitation skills. The internet allows students to build communities and work together toward a common goal. It also helps them care about each other’s curricular interests and personal goals. The key to successful online projects is administrative support. Without this there wouldn’t be enough funding for the necessary resources. Online discussion between students in the classroom is a great choice for a first online activity. For example, students could send each other e-mails to discuss group projects or just to get to know each other. A lot of the time tragedies like September 11^th and school shootings create a need for connecting with others. Many people came together online for support and comfort. Sites were developed specifically for helping young people. I believe that online sites are a great way to connect with others in times of despair and to collaborate on class projects. Learning communities are no longer bound by physical limitations. The internet allows students and teachers to explore our outside world.

Questions:

1. How can teachers provide a productive online learning community when their main means of communication is the printed word?
Answer: Teachers can provide a successful learning community online by coming up with projects that require typing and communicating with others. The projects could be submitted online instead of being printed out.
2. How can teachers accommodate students with little experience with the internet?
Answer: Teachers should carefully explain step by step how to use the internet even if there are students who are very familiar with it. Students with experience with computers can also help the students who need help.

Journal #3

"Five That Survive" by Jennifer Roland
The senior editor for L&L put together an article discussing topics that remain important to the readers. The article looks at five past volumes that continue to be valuable to L&L readers. The ISTE website is so popular that members have requested photocopy articles for their course packs and presentations. The article includes a synopsis for each past article and the author’s reflections on why the articles have remained so popular. The fourth article mentioned stood out to me the most. It was named “Too Few Computers and Too Many Kids: What Can I Do?” The article was about how few teachers have as much technology as they want to effectively integrate it into their teaching. Instead, teachers make do with what technology they do have, creating inventive and exciting projects that teach students content and technology at the same time. I think this article should be the main one to look back on because the issue of fewer computers and more kids still exists. There are many schools that can’t afford enough computers for all the students. Even though this is the case, teachers can still come up with creative lesson plans to engage their students. This article stimulates thought and suggests strategies for effectively integrating computers into the curriculum within the constraints imposed by low budgets and technological resources.

Questions:

1. How effective is discussing past articles?
Answer: It is very effective because it allows the author to reflect on his writing and technique. It also helps the reader to understand the article more.

2. Why did they choose articles that were published from 1998 through 2001?
Answer: L&L choose this time frame because it shows that they touched on some long lived ideas that were beneficial to readers. The articles give the reader a broad range of technology knowledge.

Journal #2

"Ready, Set, Integrate!" by John McCombs
Teachers at The American Embassy School in New Delhi, India worked together to remove a core technology course and integrate technology across the entire curriculum. Math, science, humanities, foreign language, fine arts, and ESL teachers developed the Technology Integration Plan (TIP) which covered software applied, skill level required, time required for the project, and time required to introduce the skills. TIP is a web-based program so the teachers could post helpful information and complete evaluations. The teachers also had meetings to discuss technology and the development of integrated technology projects. Dr. Paul Fochtman, the middle school principal, was the one who sparked the idea of school wide technology integration in January 2001. The assessment of the TIP was completed in April and May 2002.
I think it is crucial for every student in a school to be exposed to technology. The TIP idea was smart because it doesn’t require the student to take an additional class for just technology. It allows them to apply technology tools in a wide assortment of meaningful projects instead. Teachers can use their creativity to incorporate technology in math, science, history, and art classes.

Questions

1. What kind of technology tools could be used in an art class?
Answer: Teachers could use a drawing program either online or through Microsoft Office. The students could draw or paint projects digitally rather than on paper. It would be a fun and creative way to do art.
2. Should the TIP technique be used in elementary schools and high schools too?
Answer: Yes, absolutely. Learning technology tools is important for students in all grades. Some teachers might be hesitant to use technology with their younger students but there are simple programs out there that elementary students can use. Some students may know more than you expect.

Journal #1

"Power of the Mashup" by Suzie Boss and Jane Krauss
This article is about two influential teachers who used new technology in their classrooms to make assignments more appealing to their students. Jerome Burg, a pervious high school teacher, designed custom files so that his literature students could virtually travel along with a literary character, using Google Earth to explore the key locations of a story. He called his assignments “Google Lit Trips.” Jerome, along with other teachers use eight essential learning functions with the help of evolving technologies we are faced with today. Another educator by the name of David Fagg created another learning tool that incorporates new technology. Instead of the never ending confiscation of MP3 players in his classroom, he decided to integrate them into his lesson plan. David had his students use MP3 mobile devices to explore history by doing their own fieldwork and creating their own analysis of the past. He named his idea the “iHistory Podcast Project.” One of his students even quoted, “This is a better way of learning.” Both of these educational tools received worldwide attention. David and Jerome created blogs and website to share their newfound information with other teachers and students around the nation.
I enjoyed reading this article because the content was very interesting. The technology tools created by David and Jerome allow students to use their imaginations and have fun with learning. Using Google Earth is a great thing for the visual students in the classroom because it provides actual landscapes and locations to view. The MP3 player idea was a little confusing to me because I was unaware that you could do research on them. I thought you could only play music on them. Despite my confusion, I thought it was an intriguing way to conduct research in the classroom. Students would definitely be more engaged than if they had to read out of a history book.

Questions

1. What other kinds of technological tools could be used for classroom teaching?
Answer: Teachers could use ipods and other internet sites to brainstorm ideas and come up with their own unique assignments.
2. What should teachers include to help their auditory learning students?
Answer: Teachers should make the assignments discussable and put students into groups to talk about the information they discovered.

Intro Letter

Hi, my name is Jennifer Elizabeth Naumann. I was born here in beautiful San Diego, California. My parents divorced when I was 10 years old. My dad remarried a few years later. Even though my parents split up were all still very close. I was blessed with an awesome step-mother and my parents still get along great. I have two sisters, one younger and one older. My older sister is getting married next summer so I will have a brother-in law too. My mother is a software tester engineer and my dad is a lawyer. They are both very hard workers. Some of the activities I enjoy include dancing jazz and ballet, going to the beach, and hanging out with friends. I recently moved back to San Marcos after being in Boulder, Colorado for four years. I received my Bachelors degree in Humanities and Pre-Education. I attended four different schools during my K-12 education. When I lived in Rancho Bernardo I went to Turtleback Elementary for Kindergarten and 1^st grade. Then I moved to Carmel Valley where I finished up elementary school at Solana Highlands. For 7^th and 8^th grade I attended Earl Warren Junior High located in Solana Beach. Lastly, I went to Torrey Pines High School for 9^th grade-12^th grade. During my junior year of high school my mom moved up to San Marcos. Luckily I didn’t have to change schools because my dad still lived in Carmel Valley with my step-mom. The long commute to school was definitely an inconvenience at times.
I was first introduced to a computer in elementary school and have used one frequently ever since. My first computer in college was a PC desktop. At one point I never wanted a laptop. I always thought they were too complicated and scary to work with. After using a desktop for a few years I changed my mind. I hated the fact that they were heavy and bulky. I faced my fear and bought a laptop a few months ago. I’m so glad I did because they are so much easier to work on. My preconceived notions were wrong. The first time I used a Mac was at a friend’s house. It was very confusing because I was unfamiliar with the different settings. I got so used to working on a PC that I didn’t like the Mac at all. Since the class is forced to work on Macs this semester, hopefully they will grow on me. I think I will always be a PC person at heart though. I rely on my computer for everything these days. I use it to search the net, type up papers, and store my music and pictures. I check my e-mail and facebook on a daily basis. Since my mom works with computers I know a lot about them. I rarely have questions on how to use programs on a PC. The Mac is another story.
There was one sentence in the College of Education Mission Statement that stuck out to me the most. The quote goes as follows, “We are committed to diversity, educational equity, and social justice, exemplified through reflective teaching, life-long learning, innovative research, and ongoing service”. I like this particular quote because it addresses the core meaning of teaching. If a teacher isn’t able to embrace students cultural and racial differences, then their not meeting the needs of the student. I believe that every student should receive the same amount of help despite their financial status, race, or cultural background. It is also crucial for a teacher to review and reflect on one’s teaching methods in order to help their students to succeed. Many students learn in different ways so teachers should construct lesson plans that encompass all types of learning. It’s important to remind ourselves that learning doesn’t stop in the classroom. Life-long learning refers to things we learn in our environment every day. We learn from our friends, family, and co-workers. The process of learning is never ending. We can also learn by doing research and volunteering in our community. “Innovative research” and “ongoing service” shows dedication and appreciation to the teaching profession. By volunteering for organizations in the community and expanding your knowledge, you will gain a respectable reputation as a teacher and people with look up to you more. A clean cut image is important for a teacher to have because their actions reflect them as a person as well as a professional.