Final Reflection

Before the class began I entered the semester with no excitement at all. My first thought was "I'll just do what I need to do to fulfill my Computer Literacy requirement for my major". As the semester went on it proved to be very exciting because it was not only a class about learning about technology in today's school system but I learned how to apply several tools to integrate technology into the classroom. In the beginning I learned about NETS which outlines what teachers should be able to do with technology and provide's a rubric to determine a teacher's level of technology literacy. One of the most important tools learned in this class was the Dynamic Instructional Design model which provides a systematic way of developing a lesson plan. The Wiki Lesson Plan assignment further reiterated how do develop a structured lesson to present to the students. Another important topic that we covered was cognitive and learning style inventories. This helped me to understand learning diversity and how important it is to accomodate every students learning needs. One of my favorite assignments was the Dream Computer assignment because the topic of the presentation wasn't as important as how to use this tool in order to communicate with students through distance learning. This was a tool that I thought was very complicated before I began the assignment but I was wrong. This was my favorite tool because it was very simple to use and it can give a teacher the freedom to express themselves verbally and visually show a student how to, for example, solve an equation using the quadratic formula. The most important thing that I learned from the class is that technology is developing rapidly and teachers have to remain aware and very technology literate to better prepare their students for success in their education and their future career. Technology and computer literacy provides a means to learn and teach in several different formats and has evolved into a necessity in today's school systems. If there was one topic that I would have liked to learn more about, it definitely would be learning about very recent and future developments and tools in technology that teachers can utilize in the classroom. This was a great class and every assignment forced me to think outside of the box of education through textbooks and videos.

Assignment 8: Issues in Integrating Technology

The Group assignment was very interesting because it seemed very challenging in the beginning. The thought of collaborating to accomplish a group assignment through the use of technology was a scary thought for me. I am accustomed to doing group assignments face to face. Communicating through e-mail to plan, organize, and execute a group assignment taught me the benefits and luxuries that technology presents to educators when creating a collaborative effort. Once we began communicating and forming a plan for the assignment, the presentation came together effortlessly. It helped to have a group leader to act as a focal point for ideas and then make a final decision as to how we would ultimately execute our plan for the assignment. We used Google Sites to create our project which provided an easy means of creating a presentation that could be accessed by students from home if necessary. Google Sites allowed the group members to equally contribute to the site since it was very user friendly and required no experience in web design. The assignment came together very well with no problems although we were several hundred miles away from each other. There are almost no limits as to how a teacher can present information to their students.

Assignment 7 (Virtual Field Trip)

When I first began creating the virtual field trip, I automatically felt defeated. I knew it had to be done so once I started creating the virtual field trip ideas just kept coming and before I knew it I was trying to figure out how to keep it simple. This is a great way to give students a chance to explore several aspects of a topic and keeping them engaged by allowing them the opportunity to interact with the exercises, questions, and videos presented to them. The Virtual Field Trip was also an interactive assignment for myself because I learned new material as I put the questions and assignments together. I decided to do a Virtual Field Trip on the Civil Rights Movement. There was a total of 6 "Stops" created for students to learn about significant events that greatly influenced/impacted the Civil Rights Movement. Each "Stop" give's the student a summary of each key event and a short video giving further details. After the student has viewed the short video, there are 3 questions for the student to answer. Some of the questions are factual but other questions allows the students to use their critical thinking skills. I would definitely use a Virtual Field Trip as a learning tool for my future students.

Assignment 6

Evaluation of Educational Resources

     The IXL Learning site provides students from Kindergarten through the 8th grade with the proper tools to help master their mathematics skills for their respective grade.  This site has a comprehensive listing of main math categories which is further broken down into subcategories.  As the students work through the problems, the site provides an explanation to every problem to help the student understand their errors.  As I worked through some of the problems at the 8th grade level the accuracy of the solutions were 100% correct.  Another good thing that was noticed was how simple the developers made it for students to easily navigate through each section of the website.  Once a student has worked through several math problems the parents can check their child's progress in a detailed report outlining the number of correct and incorrect problems as well as how much time was spent on a particular section.  This tells the parents whether or not their child has master a subcategory or needs more practice.  And most importantly the site definitely meets instructional objectives.  The IXL Learning site has included each states learning standards for math.  IXL Learning should definitely be used in the classroom to help students improve their math skills.

     Next, I conducted an evaluation of the Social Psychology Network's website credibility of the content.  Social Psychology Network is an educational organization founded by Dr. Scott Plous with over 9,500 members worldwide. The purpose of this website is to raise awareness of issues relating to psychology around the world and also as a research tool providing foundational and current information in the study of psychology.  All links seem to be reputable and creditable sources of information and all links are non-profit organizational websites supported by the National Science Foundation.  An excellent feature of the website is it's ability to function almost like a search engine comprised of reputable sources of information.  The Social Psychology Network provided unbiased, well organized, and sufficient information for my purpose of researching the Stanford Prison Experiment.  This website is highly recommended for all Psychology majors, educators, and professionals to remain aware and knowledgeable in the field of psychology.

Assignment 5

Lincoln High School Grant Proposal

Lincoln High School in Tallahassee, FL is seeking a grant to improve the science department with the objective of helping all of our students, specifically those at risk, enhance their foundational knowledge of natural science, anatomy, biology, Astronomy and chemistry as well as challenge the students with a curriculum commensurate with their grade level.  The students have struggled with science subjects at all levels due to outdated and obsolete learning tools and equipment.  Our college attendance rate has continued to drop and currently only 28% of our students continue on to seek higher education after high school.  In comparison to other subjects, students’ grades are the lowest in science related subjects.  Lincoln High School has 892 students, of which only 464 have attained a grade of C or higher.  Our goal by the end of the year is that students will have at least obtained a grade of C or higher with this new and challenging curriculum.  Funding in the amount of $49,793.96  is requested to purchase the necessary equipment to prepare the teaching staff to reach this goal and also revive the students desire to learn science.

              The Science Department is requesting funds to acquire 2 complete Apple Macbook Learning Labs.  Each lab includes twenty 11” Macbook Air computers and wireless networking, all housed in a secure cart, which also acts a charging station.   The total cost of each Macbook Learning Lab is $23,899.00.  All computers come with a 2 year protection plan for technical support and also account for damage to the computers.  The configuration for the Macbook Air computers includes a 1.3 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, Intel HD Graphics 5000 card, 4GB memory, and 128 GB of flash storage, 720p HD camera, two USB 3 ports, 802.11ac Wi-Fi wireless networking, Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology, stereo speakers, dual microphones, and headphone port.  The screen size is an 11.6 inch LED display.  Also, four Apple TVs will be used for visual instruction by showing the iPad display through the use of the projector, which is an additional $99.00 each.  The Science Department will also need 16 GB iPads that will be assigned to four different classrooms for teachers to use as an instructional aid to interface with Apple TV and our classroom projectors for an additional cost of $1,596.00.

            The Macbook Learning Labs will provide the teachers in the Science Department with the means to introduce a more rigorous curriculum focused on interactive, project-based learning.  Rather than listening to lectures, recording notes, and taking multiple-choice tests, students will learn by participating in interactive group science projects.  After the lesson is taught, students groups will select a topic and use their Macbook computers to create and present reports in a number of different formats, such as movies, podcasts, wikis, and blogs.  Students are captivated and interested in learning through the use of computer apps, which Apple has done an outstanding job in creating an online app store with over 40,000 educational apps as well as useful utility tools that can be installed on the computer.  Apps such as Chem Pro, Visual Anatomy, iCell, and Solar Walk will be installed onto every computer to give students access to tools to guide and enhance the understanding of essential learning objectives.  The Apple TV will be connected to a projector to provide a means of displaying visual instruction from the iPad via wireless access.  Each science teacher will use his or her assigned iPad to wirelessly interface with the Apple TV to use apps as tools for teaching the new curriculum.  Please give thorough consideration to this proposal as this will be the beginning to a better future for our students and provide our teachers with the tools to aid in this objective.

Item	Price	Quantity
Macbook Learning Lab Cart	$1,800.00	2
11” Macbook Air Computer	$921.95	40
Apple Care Protection	$183.00	40
iPad	399.99	4
Apple TV	$99.00	4

Total Cost = $49,793.96

Assignment 4

This assignment gave me great insight and knowledge of how a teacher forms the foundation of a lesson before it is presented to a class.  One of the most important piece of information that I gathered from this assignment was designing a lesson plan according to state educational standards.  Creating a lesson plan not only prepares the student with the necessary knowledge and education needed to meet the goals and standards of the state but it better prepares the teacher to lead and guide the student to be successful by doing the necessary preparation to present an interesting, challenging lesson for the students.  Understanding how to create a lesson plan has taught me to make sure I prepare before instruction in order to connect with the student in a positive manner and keep the students mentally stimulated.



https://jimcrowlessonplan.wikispaces.com

Assignment 3

   LeTray T. Womble         

The Myers-Briggs Test consists of 16 possible outcomes and gives each individual a 4 letter Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).  The results of the cognitive test concluded that my MBTI is INTP which stands for Introversion, Intuitive, Thinking, and Perceiving.  My MBTI categorized me as being a dominant introverted thinker.  There were similarities and consistencies that was noticed when I took the Edutopia learning style test.  The results of the learning style inventory test concluded that I am an intrapersonal learner out of 8 possible outcomes.  Based on the questions answered the intrapersonal category ranked the highest at 70% among all eight learning style categories.

            As I reviewed the results of both tests it was surprising to see how accurate the statements were concerning my cognitive and learning styles.  For example, the cognitive tests labeled me as dominant introverted thinker and the summary of this personality type indicated that “Introverted Thinking personality types have a finely nuanced ability to analyze situations, find root causes, and foresee consequences.  They distrust action taken too quickly without necessary investigation” (Poirier, n.d.).  Most of the time I will spend several hours or even days researching a topic before I make a decision.  Also, the Edutopia learning style test stated that an intrapersonal learner is “connected to who you are and how you feel, and you know your own limits and abilities.  You often set goals for yourself, self-manage, and reflect on results” (Roberts, 2013).  I am very reluctant to commit to any task which I have no or very little ability to accomplish and I enjoy managing the time and way in which I accomplish tasks.  The results for both tests were interesting because they revealed my cognitive style and learning style as being introverted and intrapersonal, respectively.

            As a teacher I can can use these results to better understand the strengths in my personality in order to focus on using characteristics such as being levelheaded, objective, independent.  Some of the statements such as “They are curious and capable of explaining complex political, economic, or technological problems, taking great pleasure in explaining all the factors and intracacies” (Poirier, n.d.) is a characteristi that I am self-conscious of because I am constantly thinking I am giving someone too much detail which can be a weakness or aggrivation to the receiver in general conversation.  But in a teaching environment these characteristics can only help the students that need a subject simplified in order to fully understand, within reason.  As a student I have to remain aware that I am an intrapersonal learner in order to maximize my learning experience.  The suggestions from the results of the learning style inventory test suggested that I study alone in a comfortable and quiet place and set personal goals while frequently monitoring my progress which has proven to be very effective when utilized. 

        

                                                  References

INTP ISTP Personality Types | 16 MBTI Personality Types. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.personalitypathways.com/dom-ti.html

Learning Styles Quiz Results: Digging Deeper | Edutopia. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/your-learning-styles

Cognitive Style Test:  http://www.personalitypathways.com/type_inventory.html

Learning Style Test:  http://www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-learning-styles-quiz

Assignment 2

Technology in Today’s Education

LeTray T. Womble

The University of Alabama

CAT 200

Michelle A Hale

September 3, 2013

There are several definitions of educational technology and this definition has changed with time.  Through my experiences in formal education or personal edification, educational technology is the continuous advancement of education as a result of improving the current way of learning or solving problems in any form of education through the use of several types of media such as a projector, computer, books, whiteboard, social media, video chat, letters, computer based learning, simulation training, DVD etc. 

I remember reading To Kill a Mockingbird in 10^th grade and shortly after, watching the movie in class.  My reading skills were great but my imagination wasn’t the best.  I am a visual learner so it was very difficult to enjoy the story and empathize with Boo Radley until we had the pleasure of watching the movie.  Reading is the foundational building block to a great education but technology enhances the educational environment for those students that have different learning styles. 

Technology in the classroom has dramatically changed the way educators teach their curriculum and how students learn.  Today the role of educational technology, as it relates to teaching, can be categorized as more of a facilitation role.  Teachers do more guiding than directing or instructing due to technological advancements that have been incorporated into the classroom.  For example, an accounting teacher may explain the concepts of a balance sheet but the student can create a balance sheet in Microsoft Excel and also learn practical application that can be applied in the real world.  This provides more opportunities for students to play an active role in determining the outcome and knowledge gained from the curriculum of the class.

There are several factors that may encourage and discourage the use of technology in the classroom.  Some factors that may encourage the use of technology in the classroom is a student’s desire or curiosity to learn a new technology being introduced into the classroom such as the use of Google Glass which is being used in Penn High School in South Bend, Indiana.  Penn High School teacher, Grant Carlile stated  “I would be able to do attendance, augment presentations with notes and give them grades on Glass,” (Gonzalez, 2013).  Many students become intrigued with new technology, which encourages its use.  There are also times when the use of technology can be discouraged which could be for several reasons but the main reason is lack of technological literacy.  Students become ashamed or embarrassed of lacking the skills or knowledge to use certain technology and lose interest very quickly.  

References

Gonzalez, Gabby (2013, July 21). New Technology From Google Finds its Way to Michiana Classroom. News Center 16. Retrieved from www.wndu.com

Assignment 1

During my school years, there wasn't much emphasis on the use of technology to support and drive our education.  But my technology skills have greatly improved since I joined the military in 2003.  We use technology via computers, radios, satellites, etc. as a necessity for the mission and those in the military have no choice but to be technologically literate in most career fields.  I am very confident that my technology skills are more than adequate to survive and be successful at my job, school, personal affairs and also equipped with enough skills to continue to improve those skills as society changes it's way of using technology.  I plan to maintain my current skill level by self education/research on how technology is changing with time, computer based training offered through different military applications, and college courses that I am currently enrolled in.

Several applications such as IT e-Learning, Apple and Microsoft workshops, and distance learning courses are available to me in order to stay proficient in my technology skills.  Small tasks such as doing group projects for a class and learning how to collaborate with peers can be useful in my future career when trying to collaborate with clients or setting up meetings via global communications.  I am thankful for being technologically literate because our society is moving very fast in and we have to be prepared for rapid and constant change in technology as it relates to almost all aspects of our lives.