We were required to select a goal/object from the TEKS in a subject area that we are going to teach. I picked High School Economics. After we selected our subject area we had to createa technology-integrated plan. You can click on the link below to see my lesson plan:
http://hornedfrog.wordpress.com/2008/12/07/unit-plan/unitplan/
My third and final field observation was during Computer Usage II. The overall objectives of the course were:
· basic computer terminology
· basic use of Windows operating systems
· basic word processing skills using Microsoft Word 2007
· letter and memo formatting
· report formatting
I completed my third observation late during the fall semester. Most of the objectives had already been fulfilled so many of the students were creating newsletters and Christmas cards using Word. What amazed me about these Christmas cards were how intricate and complex the graphics and pictures were. One student used Adobe Photoshop to create one picture from numerous pictures. Since his family was scattered all over the country, he took it upon himself to create a family portrait and it was really impressive.
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My second field observation was during the same accounting class. In order to prelude the topic, the local bank president came and gave a presentation about opening your first checking account. During his presentation, he showed students how to write checks and the importance of balancing your checkbook in order to circumvent overdraft charges. Furthermore, he spoke on the emergence of e-commerce and the effects of electronic checking on your check account. After he left, the students were then showed how to use Quicken and Microsoft Money to import your checking statement to your computer in order to balance your checkbook. Since I have proficient experience in both software programs, I was asked by my previous teacher to assist with some of the students’ questions and programs that arose during the class period.
I decided to observe my former business education teacher from high school. She has now switched districts and is a computer science teacher. The new high school she teaches at is on a block schedule so I did my observations in three-two hour blocks. My first fieldwork observation was during her accounting class. She had her students create a stock market portfolio using Yahoo Finance. The great benefit of this exercise was that since market trading is in real time, the effects of any market announcements, merges or any other propriety market news was realized quickly. I had actually participated in this exercise with her during my high school days. The primary difference was that when we completed it, we had to use Quattro Pro, which I hated, now the students used Excel to assist them with their stock market portfolios and it seemed much easier.
As an educator, you have no choice but to utilize technology in your professional field. Over 75% of the products we use from doing laundry (my washer and dryer alerts my computer when my clothes are finished) to driving (GPS navigation) have an impact on the way we live our lives. Truthfully, most of the students are more technologically savvy then the adults who teach them. As a result, teachers and educators alike need to be on the cusp on the cutting edge of technology. One of the biggest obstacles I have been faced with is the fact that I have become so complacent with the technology I have grown up with. As one grows older, it gets harder to grasp emerging technologies, therefore leaving many individuals in an unequal playing field. In order to educate myself I will continue to take classes such as this (Technology Applications in Education) and will take advantage of the free trials that many of the software companies offer.
As I stated before in my work samples reflection post, I have already begun doing a monthly newsletter in Publisher to keep all of my friends and family members who are not as technologically savvy a breasted of my current events. For the more technologically inclined, I will continue to update my blog so they can keep track of my personal and professional progress. Also, I have been helping my mother craft her resume on Microsoft Word and recently have purchased a TiVo so now she can watch all of her favorite shows on her time.
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During week 1 in our Technology Applications in Education class we focused on using blogs to disseminate information to our students. Before this first week of class, I never read or used blogs so I apprehensive to the effectiveness of this medium. But after completing my first blog, I was surprised on how useful this cyber tool can be. All of my internet friends visit my blog and it is a great communication tool. I will continue to blog far into the future. |
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During week 4 in our Technology Applications in Education class we focused on creating educational videos to use as tutorials in our classroom. In order to create these videos, we used Windows Movie Maker to aide our project. Furthermore, we were required to upload our videos on YouTube. Before I started this exercise I was somewhat worried that the videos would be boring, but in actuality it has proven to be quite a powerful vehicle in the dissemination of information. I think these videos make excellent tutorials for general use and especially for the classroom. |
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During week 5 in our Technology Applications in Education class, we focused on creating interactive Power Point presents, by utilizing the macro function. I found this project especially enriching considering that I was able to reach a large audience with one presentation. After completing the exercise I was able to send out a mass email to numerous students and parents and each presentation was personalized to the student. I greatly enjoyed creating the presentation and not only was it interactive but it was great fun. Also, I shared my presentation with my funding agency and that would like to build on it and use it for their recruitment activities. |
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During week 6 in our Technology Applications in Education class, we focused on creating a newsletter for our classroom using Microsoft Desktop Publishing. This exercise allowed us to cultivate our more creative side by drawing on a field of experiences from the classroom, the arts, higher education academic and a plethora of choices. By creating a newsletter in your classroom, it allows your students to be more involved and gives the parents an inside look of what is going on inside the classroom. I greatly enjoyed this experience and feel that this technology can be a great asset to any classroom. Although I am not in the classroom this year, it has given me the opportunity to use various pictures from concerts I attended and information from a few of the books I have read over the course of the semester to share with my friends and family who I have rarely have had the time to communicate over the past few months. I have decided to create a monthly newsletter for my family members and friends so that way we can keep in touch throughout the year. |
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During week 8 in our Technology Applications in Education class, we focused on creating a lesson plan with integrating Excel technology. As a business education teacher, I found this particular exercise extremely helpful. I always knew of the capabilities of Excel, but never utilized the full power of this software. I was able to build real-life lessons by using Excel to create a stock market portfolio to using Excel to develop spreadsheets, which simulate real-time inventory and cost of merchandise sold. In addition, I will continue to incorporate Excel into my future lesson plans. |
The hard costs of implementing a new technology is money. It is quite obvious that purchasing any software is taxing on your pocketbook, but there are other costs involved that can be equally it not more taxing. These costs are referred to as the “soft costs,” which in include time, memory, storage space, etc. It regards to choosing a new technology, I do feel it depends on just how technology savvy you are. Most people love their gadgets and software and have to have the latest thing, but if you are not one of these people, then more than likely the switching costs are not worth it.
Over the course of the last two weeks, my fellow students and I have been busy building webpages, the criteria of the web page included:
· Design must utilize a table in order to create the design layout.
· You must utilize no fewer than 3 images on your site. One image must be a hyperlink.
· Your site must contain no fewer than 5 hyperlinks.
· Your site must contain a “resources” page that contains links to where you retrieved your images from and any
other information that requires a source citing.
· You must utilize at least 3 heading tags.
· You must change your font face, size and color to achieve a look appropriate to the type of business you are
setting up.
· Your site cannot have a white background color.
· You will be evaluated on the visual aesthetics of your site.
The over experience was actually quite fun. I think having your own webpage could be an effective tool. I can see myself utilizing this tool in the classroom by uploading assignments, bulletins, and the course schedule for my students and parents can see. We were required to create our own company for the project. I chose Craig Marroquin, Inc., which is my prospective company that I have created, which is to help institutions of higher learning retain and promote their minority students, hope you enjoy.
http://www.freewebs.com/craigmarroquin/index.htm
This past week, we utilized Excel to create a Lesson Plan and Grading Rubric for our class. It was quite informative. I will be definitely using this. The only drawback I could see to using Excel in the classroom is having to set everything up, but after you complete this first step, it is quite a breeze. I would also use Excel when I am house hunting in the near future. The ability to play around with different house prices, down payments, interest rates take pretty much of the guessing out when trying to decide how much house you can afford. Here are my samples from class:
All I can say is wow, check it out, Palin got reamed.
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