Inspiration

Inspiration has a lot of great ideas to model in the classroom.  One idea I liked a lot was the Research Paper Graphic Organizer.  This takes the subject of a research paper and breaks it down into five different categories.  Under each category it provides two or there criteria under each heading that a student can look at as a checklist or rubric type of deal.  It give structure and a visual map of how to be successful at writing a research paper.  I would most definitely use this in my class because I feel it would give students more security while they do their work.  If I were to modify it I would keep the same structure, but I might change the categories and criteria to fill the needs of my assignment.  This is a Substitution technology.  This could be written on the board or photocopied and handed out to each student.  

The next idea was similar to the last, but more in depth.  This was a Multimedia Project Graphic Organizer.  At the top of the page was from left to right; Today's Date, the assignment, and then the due date.  Under the assignment it had the topic of each criteria or checklist and to the left of it were the details on how to complete it.  Now, this is different from the last idea was the part on goals.  To the right of each criteria were separate dates that each criteria was supposed to be completed by.  I like the idea of setting goals and breaking up a project.  I would use this in my classroom because it ensures quality work to be done if it is followed correctly.  I would be able to tell the differences between those who actually followed this model and those who did their project in one night.  I would again, modify the criteria and and keep the same structure. This is also a Substitution technology.  This could be written on the board or photocopied and handed out to each student.

http://www.inspiration.com/inspiration-thinking-and-planning-examples

SAMR Model

My examples of technology usage and how they fit into the SAMR model are as follows:




Printer - Most students have used printers in their careers and they are a technology at the Substitution level.  It's an upgrade from copying a piece of work multiple times by hand and allows you to print out multiple copies in just seconds.  It replaces hand written copying.

Laptop - This is definitely in the Redefinition category.  Laptops give students access to content and information way beyond what their text books, and even teachers can teach them.  Blogs can be made that allows people from around the world to comment and input their diverse opinions on.  Presentations can be made using special software like Prezi.

Projectors- Projectors are a Substitution level technology.  Displaying worksheets that could be handed out, or a teachers notes that could be written on the board are clear examples of just pure substitution.

Buzzers- While playing a game like Jeopardy, buzzers can be an Augmentation for raising ones hand.  It replaces the fact that you are making a gesture to be called upon, but it also makes noise so it con be easier to determine who wanted to "raise their hand first"

Glasses -  I know this isn't a typical thought when we think of technology, but glasses in my mind are an advancement in technology that helps students in the class room.  I myself, used to have glasses and the difference in my performance was very noticeable once I could see fully.  Glasses are another type of Augmentation.  It just improves the functionality of your eyes.

This blog entry was based off of the SAMR model presented on iTunes U.  https://itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/as-we-may-teach-educational/id380294705
     

My MEL experiences.

• Student/teacher relationship: I had a very strong student/teacher relationship wit my former high school A.P. U.S. History teacher.  He was also my freshman football coach.  He always created a positive environment and had a good attitude going into every single class.  Much of his class was based off humor which I loved.  He always provided a safe environment to learn though and knew the right and wrong amount of humor and critique to tolerate.  He never made anyone feel like an outcast.  Anyone who was willing to learn and have fun doing it was more than welcome to his classes.
• Learning styles: Unfortunately, this was an aspect during my grade schooling that didn't have much emphasis.  I was never given an assessment to understand what type of learner I was, well not that I can remember anyways.  A good thing though is that my teachers always differentiated for me and my fellow classmates.  If we needed deadlines pushed back, to redo assignments, or be provided with multiple options on completing an assignment, my teachers have always done an excellent job.  
• Helping students succeed: I am not very good at math, but I have one of the best memories from it.  I had been struggling my freshman year with pre-algebra and I was close to failing.  My math teacher spent so much extra time with me before and after class, assigned me extra practice problems, and would even provide me with more time on tests in order to keep me from looking a the clock every two seconds.  I didn't do well overall, but the big part is I didn't fail either.  I am certainly assured I passed solely from the help of my math teacher.  Some of your worst struggles can be your best stories.  
• Hands-On: I've never had much hands-on experimentation outside of science classes.  I remember doing many experiments in my chemistry and physics labs.  My favorite memory of hands-on experience was creating our own rocket prototypes and actually launch them to see whose design went the furtherest.  There was also only one instance I can remember outside of science classes dealing with hands-on experiment and it comes from an unlikely subject area, social studies.  We had a Revolutionary America day at my high school where we went out onto our athletic fields and learned how to be an American Revolutionary soldier.  We learned how to march, formations, lifestyles of camp, cuisine, and there was a demonstration with actual older rifles from the revolutionary era of how they fired.  This was an experience I will never forget.  Seeing the teacher in my history department dressed up in old style military outfits, marching around, and shooting off blanks of old rifles.  
• Context: One of the worst experiences I had as a high school student was with my physics class.  We had a teacher who had his doctorate and formerly taught at universities and then decided to go back to high school.  He rushed through all of our physics problems and rushed through how to get the correct answers.  He would leave all of his work on the whiteboard, but it looks like hieroglyphics to me because he didn't properly explain the meaning of the content.  I was bad with math to start with and the last thing I needed was a college professor teaching his high school class like it was a college class.  This was my sophomore year so I was young and very intimidated by this teacher.   

Learning Style Inventory Results

    According to the learning-styles-online.com, I am foremost a social and aural learner.  This is very different from what I have come up with during class surveys.  I would like to think this one is more accurate since there were 70 questions used to evaluated.  However, I know I like to move around a lot while I learn and the results from here put physical learning second to last.  I don't think that that is very accurate, but I do like music quite a bit and I do like to learn with others.    

Google Earth

       Google Earth is an amazing tool that is really fun to play around with.  i had used it before this assignment so i knew how to use it pretty well.  The one thing I did learn though was using the watch feature to see what used to be and what is currently.  I learned that through this assignment.
       I would definitely be able to use this in my classroom.  If I wanted to teach my students about the battle of Bunker and Breeds Hill I could take them them while inside that classroom!  I could show them an overview of the area and explain the strategy of both the colonists and British.  It really helps give a visual aid to those who would have trouble picturing it or just looking at it on a map.

Maine Memory Network

    While on Maine Memory Network I explore my own town of Waterboro.  It was really fascinating to see town parades in 1900, a railroad station from before 1908, and a picture of the first collection of jurors.  As a History major, I love looking through all this stuff and especially since its about my town.  I love seeing the methods of operating daily life way back when.
    I would use Maine Memory Network in my class to help give visual representations of the past.  Also, there are valuable example of primary sources for students to see.  When I was on Maine Memory Network I read a lesson plan on the burning of Falmouth.  Not a lot of people new that the British actually opened fire on Falmouth (modern day Portland) and actually burned it down because of the capture of a British officer.

Wes Fryer Chapter 1

     In the first chapter of Fryer's book I thought there was a lot of information I already knew.  However, he does bring up a few points that I agree and disagree with.  First, I agree that as teachers we need to encourage more creative learning in the classroom and not learning to get a good grade or avoid punishment.  I also agree that we need to stop putting so much emphasis on standardized testing.  It seems that students are learning more about how to pass a standardized test these days rather than actually learning valuable content.  I happen to disagree that we as teachers, should accept and integrate cell phones into the classroom.  I think that technology in the classroom is great, but a personalized device will become too much of a distraction.  Students don't view cell phones as  assets to learning, but toys to play with.  I like the reference that Fryer makes when he says that we learn best play playing and being creative like when we were all kids.  We do naturally learn about our confusing world by playing around and becoming creative.  We need to be more creative in the classrooms today.  There are ways to teach information that will be covered in a standardized test in a creative way.  I think technology is too big to ignore and will  undoubtedly play a huge role in the classroom.