Distance Education

1. One of the major pro’s about virtual schools is it gives a chance for everybody to get an education especially those who do not want to go or can not go to traditional schools. Students who are raising a family as a teen will benefit from virtual schools because they will have the chance to get an education and raise their child. All students learn at different paces that might not match with the public schools. Virtual schools allow students who excel at a rapid pace to continue moving on and not be slowed down by other students. Virtual schools ensure that students are learning material at a pace that suits them and will learn the most. Virtual schools are also great for students who have a health or physical condition that does not let them to continue with school. Virtual schools still let students learn and graduate from high school, but in their own setting that fits them much better because of their condition. Technology can often be hard to integrate into regular school classrooms, and technology is becoming a part of our future education. Virtual schools are integrating technology in numerous ways and this in return can enhance the learning for students because they are learning differently then just from textbooks. Another benefit I see to virtual schools is AP classes. There are many schools that do not offer AP classes or they only offer a few to students. Virtual schools provide several AP courses that students can take that they may never have been able to at their public school. It gives them a chance to get college credit while in high school. Another great benefit to virtual schools is it allows parents to get more involved then they would with public schools. Parents have access to student’s grades, and have to help their children with homework. It allows them to get more involved with their child’s education which can be both beneficial for students and parents especially for students who are home schooled. Virtual schools have a lot of great benefits for students who have conditions that just do not allow them to attend public or private schools. It fits all types of students and allows them to still get an education where they might have never been able to do so before.
2. A major flaw I can see to virtual schools is students not being able to set a schedule that works for them and actually completing the course work. When students go to school they are forced to attend their classes and teachers encourage them and require them to do their homework. They are getting one on one contact with the teacher who is there to help force them to do their work. It would be easy to not complete your homework or do your coursework because the student is in charge or their learning. In order for virtual schools to work students need to have access to the internet. If their parents can not provide internet they are required to find it somewhere else. This can be a huge downfall for students who are not able to get internet because they can not be part of virtual schools. Another downfall to virtual schools is not getting the one on one assistance from the teacher. If students do not understand a concept they are relying on their parents or getting assistance from the teacher later on. Students who require a lot of assistance while doing work and learn best from asking questions will have a hard time with virtual schools. Students are getting explanations through the phone instead of having the teacher talk to them face to face and see their actual work. Parents can play a bigger role in virtual schools for their child then they would in public schools. Parents need to be there for guidance and motivate them to do their work. If students have parents that are not involved, it can significantly hinder their ability to do well in virtual schools. Parents that are not involved will not be there to answer questions, provide help, or clarification on homework. Sometimes teachers are the only educational guidance students have and if parents are not providing that for their child they may not do as well. I believe that learning can be socially constructed, and virtual schools do not always provide that atmosphere. I think it is important for students to interact with other students and find meaning and learn while working together and communicating. Students who do virtual schools are not getting that social interaction with other students which I feel can be very important and would significantly impact their learning.
3. One of the first ways I would determine if students are ready for distance education is how well they are doing in school in regards to the pace they are moving at. If students are moving at a faster past then the rest of the class, and I feel they are bored and not getting enough of a challenge, I would suggest virtual schooling. This would allow students to work at a pace that is best from them and really get to excel in school instead of always waiting for the rest of the class to catch up. I would also determine if students are ready for virtual education by their work ethic and whether or not they do their school work and finish their homework. If students do their homework in class and homework at home and needs little motivation to complete these tasks, I would consider them ready for distance education. If students constantly need reinforcement in school and I do not feel like they would get that at home; they would not be prepared for distance education. Also, if the student does their work independently and would prefer to do work this way instead of with the teacher or other students; I would consider them ready for distance education. If I am aware that parents are very involved in their students academics that would be another sign that would help me determine if they are ready. If parents are not involved with their education I would not suggest virtual schools for them.
4. In order to teach in a virtual school I would need to have a teacher’s certificate. There is also an interview process I would have to go through before I could have the job. There are certain responsibilities I would have as a virtual teacher. Teachers have responsibilities with students, administrators, and parents. Teachers need to from the beginning of the semester to phone their students. They are also required to make monthly phone calls to students, as well as monthly emails to discuss with the students’ progress. The virtual teachers also need to provide weekly emails with students to see how they are doing and be encouraging to them. The teachers need to be available through phone and email to answer student’s questions. Assignments also need to be graded with comments and returned within forty eight hours. They have to attend meetings for IEP and 504 students and attend weekly Elluminate Sessions with material that will motivate and involve students. Teachers also have responsibilities with administrators by developing individual student plans for each student and an individual monthly tracking system of student’s progress. Virtual teachers need to create an intervention plan for students who are not making monthly progress. Teachers need to also provide principals with monthly status reports of their students. The last requirement virtual teachers have is with the student’s parents. They are required to call or write a letter to the parents within and have a conference with parents once over the semester. Teachers also need to have the knowledge of the technology being used in order to create lesson plans that are engaging and will get students interacting. If teachers are not able to do this, it will significantly impact the students because they need multiple approaches to learning through the internet.

Teacher Web Reflections

1. One of the ways I think the Teacher Web would be great in the classroom is for parents. The parents could check this often to see important announcements, what their children were working on, or the classroom wish list. It lets parents be a part of their child’s learning. They can use the website to make sure their children are completing homework and know when the important dates are. It is a way to communicate with the parents in a timelier manner then always having to spend time writing emails as well as save time for parents.
Another great way to enhance the classroom by using the Teacher Web would be through the calendar I provided with important dates for the students and parents. It would allow parents to always know what is going on in the classroom. It lets them be a part of their child’s learning and seeing what they do on a day to day basis. It is also great for the students because it posts reminders of important projects, field trips, or activities that are going on in the classroom. This allows students to be more prepared and if they forget when something is due they can turn to the calendar to get those answers. It provides another great communication tool to have with the students and parents outside of the classroom.
The grades section is a great feature that can be incorporated into my classroom which would benefit parents and students. This allows students and parents to constantly be on top of their grades and know how they are progressing. Students could check their grades often to ensure that they do not have missing work and that their grades are correct. This would help teachers to make sure the grades are correct for the students. Parents can also benefit off of this feature because they can stay on top of their children’s grades and make sure they are completing their work.

2. A feature that I think will be great for students to use is the web resources. By creating a wide range of different types of resources for students will create a great place for them to turn to and use. It will let them engage in the learning process on their own without always having to turn to the teacher for guidance. They can use these resources to help them continue to learn in the classroom as well as outside of the classroom. It provides another great tool for teachers to constantly be engaging their learners in a creative way.
Another great way that students can use the teacher web to enhance their learning is providing assignments on the teacher web such as the graphs that students need to make from a science project. Teachers can put interactive projects from units they are doing in school and expand farther by posting assignments on the Teacher Web. This type of learning will enhance their knowledge and let them learn in a different way than usual. It is also fun that they are getting to do something on the computer versus always writing it down.

3. One of the best features I would use for my students would be the homework section. It would be great to post the homework for students to use as a reminder especially when they miss a day of school and need to be caught up. Children often forget when homework is due or to write down an assignment. Having a homework section in the Teacher Web would remind students of what is due so they can never use the excuse that they did not know what the assignment was. It will let them be accountable for their own learning process and taking initiative to get their assignments done. Parents can also use it to see what is due for their students and to make sure they are getting their homework done.
Another feature that I would definitely use in the classroom is the review quiz. It would be great for students to use to get extra practice on units I am teaching and they would be able to do it in an engaging way. Students love to use the computer so it would encourage them to study and use the practice questions to help learn the material. Before the students take the test I would let them know that I would be posting several practice questions they should try. It would also let me know which students are studying for the tests and who are not because I could see who is doing the practice questions out side of class. Therefore, it would be a great tool to give students extra practice in learning material I teach in class.

Engaging Students with Concept Mapping Activities

• Concept mapping can be used to really engage students in important school subjects such as language arts, math, science, and social studies. One of the ways that concept mapping could be used in my classroom that would help explain and engage students is using it in math. I always struggled with math and I think it can be a very hard subject for students to grasp. In order to support their learning, concept mapping explains concepts visually in order to make them easier to comprehend. Concept mapping provides step by step visual instructions of what is happening. It would be great for learning fractions or factor trees because it would easily demonstrate what is going on. It breaks down problems and helps them see connections which would often be hard to imagine. It will help accommodate all learning types understand math problems in an interesting and intriguing way beyond just learning it from a text book. It will really enhance visual learners because it is creating a whole new way to visualize concepts and learn them.


• Language arts would be one of the best ways to integrate concept mapping into lessons. Concept mapping are great ways to formulate ideas when writing a paper and by using concept mapping programs students are getting to be active on the computer. If they are using it to write a paper it will help the students to organize their ideas. It will allow them to move ideas around in order to find the best and most specific way to write a paper. It can also be great for reading and analyzing books. Students can create character maps or maps about the progression of a story. Students get to be interactive and have fun examining books in a different way than usual. It will enhance the students learning and help them to better engage in their learning. Students get bored of just writing papers and reading books. Concept mapping will let them learn in a new exciting way and to do assignments differently.


• Like any new program on a computer it will take time to learn how to do it. I have never done concept mapping through the internet, but I have hand written concept maps so I do understand the process of how to create them. I do not think it would take a long time to integrate them into the classroom and use them. I can take the written concept mapping ideas I have for students and begin to have them use it on the computer instead. Instead of writing step by step instructions on paper for how to complete a math problem, I can create a concept map that shows the same thing, but probably in a much easier way for students to understand. I also think it would be acceptable to try it out on the students and discover how to do them together. This will let them be a part of the learning process. It would be worth my time to learn how to use these programs because I have learned the importance of differentiated instruction. I do not want to teach the same way to my students because it does not allow them engage in learning. By providing an activity that is interactive and different will help them engage in the lessons, and that is the most important thing to provide students as a teacher.

Here is an example of a concept map

Blogs and Wikis in Education

1. One of the most interesting blogs I stumble across was a blog all about books. This blog discussed all types of books and their authors and illustrators. Incorporated in the blog is a huge list of authors and illustrator’s blogs or websites allowing children to explore more into the authors or illustrators of their favorite books. I thought this was a great idea for teachers to use for their students. Students can get on the blogs and learn more about the books that are being discussed in class. It provides a resource if they have forgotten the author of a book that they absolutely loved. Overall, the blog is a fun way to learn about books, authors, and illustrators. Another interesting and great way blogs can be used in the classroom is for high school students applying to universities. A blog that I found was made for students in countries outside of the United States that are applying to go to school here in the United States. The blog provided tips for students about applying here. I thought it would be a great tool for teachers to provide to students who are considering going to college in United States. They could show them this blog to help them get unanswered questions or any concerns they might have about applying here. The blog also provides other internet sites that might be important to them to get even further information about applying to college here. Blogs can also be used in classrooms by creating a thread of conversation that students can have with their teacher to learn more about their teacher and other classmates. I found a blog that was created by a teacher who used it to share about herself. She posted on the blog often about what she had done that weekend, where she was going, as well as asking reflective questions for her students. Students and parents could use blogs this way to learn more about their teacher. The teacher also used it as a lesson tool. She asked them questions on the blog for them to answer and bring to class. It would be a less formal way to have students do writing, but would prove to be very fun for the students because it is interactive. She also reminded students of homework that was due or to remember to bring supplies for the next class. I noticed that even during the summer the teacher posted on her blog to let her students know how her summer was going and what she was doing.

2. Aggregators are important and convenient because it allows people using the internet to see when a page is updated without having to check it manually. This can be used within the classroom for teachers who create projects such as WebQuests or blogs that students are doing online. If a teacher is updating part of a WebQuest or adding something in, then aggregators would be useful because it would allow the students to get the new information they needed to know without having to manually check for those updates. If the teacher is using a blog to post response questions for students to answer an aggregator is needed. Then students are able to see the updated questions and responses the teacher has, as well as being able to respond to other students’ recent post. Aggregators allow for these updates to show so students are able to easily respond to the posts and complete homework. Aggregators allow students to be interactive on the internet and have conversations through blogs without having to manually update it, making it much easier and efficient.

3.One of the pros I can see for using blogs or wikis in education is it provides a tool for students to use to learn and do homework, as well as getting to know their teacher. It allows them to become more familiar with the internet. Teachers can use blogs to have creative assignments for them to do instead of just learning from a book or doing worksheets. It allows them to be interactive with their homework which will help them really engage in what they are learning. It can also be used as a resource for students to continue to grow and learn outside of the classroom. The blog all about books is one that students can turn to even after they move up into another grade. It is a way to help them continue to learn about books. They can use it as a tool to create their own book list of their favorite books. There all also cons that blogs and wikis can have in education. One of the major flaws I can see in using blogs in education is dependent upon the age group they are used in. I noticed while searching blogs that it was easy to come to websites and blogs that were not appropriate for elementary students. While students are using this tool it would be very important to educate them on the internet in order to help them not run across websites they should not, as well as what to do if they accidentally do. If blogs were not used correctly and students were not taught the proper way to use it in their classroom it could create a major problem for students. Another bad thing that can arise from using blogs in education is if teachers are using other people’s blogs that have inaccurate information in their education lessons. If a teacher is going to use someone’s blog that deals with tips for writing they need to ensure the information provided on the blog is accurate. Anybody can use a blog and put information on there that is not true. Before using a blog teachers need to be aware of this and look over the blog thoroughly to make sure accurate information is on there.

Multiple Intelligences in the Classroom

1. The multiple intelligence that I have the most strength in is my Intrapersonal skills. There are several major characteristics that describe intrapersonal skills which involve types of awareness. They are aware of how they are feeling and their different views which is classified as affective awareness. They also have ethical awareness. This describes the morals that they value and the guidelines they live by. Another aspect of intrapersonal skills is being in control of their behavior and actions. There is meta-cognition where they are aware of their own thoughts and what factors influence those thoughts. The core characteristics that best describe me and affect my learning style are affective and ethical awareness. Affective awareness fits my learning style and who I am best because I am very in tune with how I feel in situations and my personal views. I am willing to stand up for what I believe in and take a strong stance on an issue that is important. I also enjoy working in groups to collaborate or discuss different opinions on issues. Ethical awareness represents me because I have morals that I value and live by each and every day. I set guidelines for myself to follow to keep myself in check and to accomplish what is important. This fits into my learning style because I set goals that will help improve my learning. I am aware of my weaknesses and I also set goals to continue to improve on those.
2. Students who have intrapersonal intelligence tend to act certain ways and prefer certain things within the classroom. People with these skills are aware of their feelings and can help use those to listen to their instincts. This helps them to make decisions that are appropriate for themselves. This can be witnessed in the classroom as they work in groups or complete projects. They can make decisions that will help them improve and express their knowledge the best. Since they are aware of their own feelings they are able to communicate how they are feeling. Students can express this in the classroom by classroom discussions or activities where they are able to state their opinion on issues. They are also aware of what activities they show strength or limitations in and can continue to improve on those. Above all, they are aware of themselves and have a strong identity of who they are and what is best for them.
3. There are several good ways that teachers can support this type of learning in their classroom and throughout their teaching. One of the major ways to support this learning is having goal sheets for students to use. Allowing them to be aware of what they want to accomplish or continue to work on for each lesson. Teachers can provide students with activities that allow them to make their own choices on how to accomplish an assignment based on their preferences. By providing this, students can pick what best suits them to learn the material. It is also important for teachers to differentiate instruction in their teaching and change up the way lessons are taught. This will allow students to express themselves and learn in different ways. Another important aspect to incorporate in the classroom for intrapersonal intelligences is journal or diary writing on a daily basis. By providing journals to write in students can express how they feel on social issues, personal issues, activities, lessons, and personal goals. It will give them a chance to reflect on how they feel and what they are learning. It will also allow teachers to get to know them better and their opinions. Teachers can also use it to learn about the goals they have set and how they have accomplished them.
4. One of the technologies that are important to intrapersonal intelligences is providing written and online surveys for them to complete. This gives them a chance to reflect on their own thoughts on issues and state their stance. They can also use surveys to learn about other persons feelings on issues. Class discussion is another way that can help support their learning. Giving students the verbal chance to discuss with other classmates how they feel or their opinion on a topic. Providing different learning centers can also help stimulate learning for them and fit into their learning style. This allows them to explore different centers throughout the lesson and be able to learn new things in different ways. Learning centers also allows for teachers to differentiate instruction in the classroom which is important for them. Another way to support learning is to provide activities that allow them to self assess and be apart of the process, instead of the teacher always determining their performance. This way they can be conscious of how they are performing and let them be involved in their own growth in learning.
5. As a teacher, I need to be aware of and pay attention to multiple intelligences to understand my students and their different strengths. I need to incorporate in my teaching style what will fit my students best. It is important to not teach the same way or teach for the same intelligence every time, but instead I need to differentiate instruction. When I teach this way I am able to create an environment for my students to thrive off of and learn the material in the way that best suits them. I can use their differences to create activities that will help motivate learning, and make them more comfortable to express themselves in the classroom. This will also help build enthusiasm to continue to work hard and strive for excellence. The most important thing I can do as a teacher is to create a classroom that incorporates all multiple intelligences.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog for Tech class!