UEN Reflection Paper

UEN will be a part of my daily classroom core curriculum. This website is an outstanding tool that I will incorporate throughout my teaching career. I will use UEN to help me write curriculum that has many facets to it. UEN lesson plans are fun and creative. My curriculum will include a lesson plan and an interactive to help my students understand the concept. For example in math my students will learn about fractions. There are several interactives available to enhance the student learning. There were other things I found interesting. I will utilize the Themepark for teaching ideas in social study subjects. I love the idea of doing a service project once a year. I will use UEN to find ideas for my class service project. I will use the Pioneer Library to research a topic I may not be familiar with. I would also like to spend a few minutes a day on a fun fact which I can get right out of Pioneer Library. I have always been intrigued by the how and why of things in this world, I hope to give some of that excitement to my students. I will show my students how to use the Culture Grams, World Book, and SIRS database for reports or research. One of the great tools specifically for fourth grade is the Counties of Utah. My students will use Counties of Utah found in Pioneer Library to enhance their learning.

I am astonished as I have shared what I have learned in UEN with my co-workers. I thought UEN would be used by those in the teaching field. The teachers I work with have heard of UEN but do not utilize it in their classroom. In the course of two weeks there were several times when I got on the UEN website to help a teacher come up with a game on math or a lesson plan on writing. I am amazed UEN isn’t used more. I am impressed with UEN and what it has to offer. Why reinvent the wheel when it is right there at your fingertips? I am excited to use UEN! UEN will give me the keys to be a successful teacher. Thank you to whomever made the UEN website possible!

Week 7 Video: Surface Computing

This video blew me away. I have seen this kind of technology in the movies. I just saw a movie where this mega computer tries to take over the world called Eagle Eye. The movie used surface computing. These guys were bringing up all kinds of information on this big screen with their hands. I remember when I saw the movie wondering if there really is technology that exists like that. Now I know the answer to that question. The part of surface technology that really got me was the "Intelligent Surfaces". Anything can be intelligent, even the surface of your favorite furniture. I loved the part in the video when they put the camera on the table and the picture appeared on the surface! This technology would be fun to use in home decorating. Maybe I could have "intelligent walls" in my home. I could change the interior walls whenenver I get tired of them. Wow, this idea is cool, I can't wait to see what they come up with next.

Video Reflection: Week 6

The video called "A Vision of K-12 Students today was interesting. At first I couldn't believe that only 14% of teachers let their students use technology. That means that most teachers aren't using technology in the class room. As I thought about it I began to believe because a lot of teachers aren't technology savvy. Many teachers are between 40-60 years old. I am assuming the teachers in that age bracket are doing things the way they did when they started teaching. I am in that age group but I am beginning my career so I want to learn all the tools that are available to me. I would assume that when a teacher has taught for many years they just do the same things they have already taught. Curriculum does change over the years but how the teacher presents probably doesn't. Another reason I believe only 14% of teachers use technology is because I work at a school. There are a few that use technology, all teachers use e-mail but other than that I haven't seen technology. Some of the problem could be funding. Maybe the teachers don't have the money to have access to the tools they need. Every teacher has one computer but for a entire class to play games, etc on computers they would need a lot more. There may be mountains I have to climb but I will do my best not to be one of the teachers in the 86% that doesn't use technology.

Reflection: Week 6

This class has given me a good basis to reach one of my goals as a teacher. One of my goals as a teacher is to make learning fun. I am now convinced to accomplish this goal I must engage my students. The question is, "How do I engage my students?" This class has given me many tools already to help me reach this goal. Using technology in the class room will help engage my students. From experience I have seen two different ways of teaching. I worked as a 504 aide for three years. One class I worked in was rowdy, the teacher had a difficult time keeping the students in control. I really didn't blame the students for being rowdy because the class was somewhat boring. Boring is an interesting word, it is overused by many students. But in this case it was the truth. I was an adult yet the lessons made me sleepy. If I am sleepy imagine how 28 pre-adolescents felt. The same teacher gave an engaging lesson once, when she was being evaluated by the principal. She was very prepared for the lesson that day. She used interesting props to prove a point. It got the students attention. I don't think teachers should have to entertain their students for six hours everyday, but teachers need a good lesson plan with hands on activities. In a class room down the hall the teacher had a high energy level. I worked in her class during math time. Almost everyday she had a math activity to help her students understand. This is the teacher who made me want to become one. She had a passion for the subject and the students.

Through the years of working in a school I have observed and watched teachers. Since I have taken this class I am more aware of the technology teachers are using. I noticed the Speech Therapist's laptop computer. Right there on her computer screen was google calendar with three different scheduling colors, red for work, blue for personal and green for her husbands schedule. I got a little excited when I saw the calendar because it is fun to see people using what I am learning. I even told the Speech Therapist about the phone feature, she didn't know about that. Another experience I had was with one of the resource teachers. She taught 4th grade last year so I thought she would be the best person to ask about tools she used in her class room. She took me to uen.org! She went on and on about UEN and how awesome it is. You can imagine how I am feeling now about the UEN scavenger hunt. I want to learn all about UEN! The resource teacher told me that she taught science to both fourth grade classes. She took the students outside with tools to find out what the weather was going to be like. She used videos in UEN to help her students with math. She engaged her students. I can't even begin to say how thrilled I am to live in the age of the internet. I have so many great tools at my finger tips.

Reflection 2: The Search for Similes, Metaphors, and Idioms

The Search for Similes, Metaphors, and Idioms

The game called “The Search for Similes, Metaphors, and Idioms is an interactive game created on PowerPoint by two fourth grade classes. There are two reasons why this game is a good choice for students. The first reason is for the learning process the student utilizes by using this PowerPoint. The second reason is because the PowerPoint was made by fourth graders. It is fun to see what other fourth graders around the world are doing. The students in my class may also want to venture out and come up with an interactive PowerPoint game. The game has a “Winnie the Pooh” theme. The game uses bright, colorful cartoon graphics and a few of the familiar characters we have all grown to love. At the beginning of the game the student reads the definition of similes, metaphors and idioms. Similes, metaphors and idioms can be confusing because they are alike, yet they have their own distinct characteristics. The student must click on any button on the keyboard to go to the next slide. The game allows the student to read one question at a time. For each question there is a choice of three answers. The three choices are similes, metaphors and idioms. The student must choose one answer by clicking on it. The game has fifteen questions. If the student answers correctly Tigger will say something. If the student gives the wrong answer Piglet will say something. It is a cute game, very simple and to the point. All this game lacks is background music. Some students may find this game boring because it isn’t all bells and whistles but it does teach the subject well. The Search for Similes, Metaphors, and Idioms game will be used by each student during the language arts unit that introduces this topic. The game will be used the last 10 minutes of language arts during free time. Research has shown that when the student learns a subject with manipulatives, the student tends to retain what he or she has learned. Students can work on this game at their own pace without feeling pressure. With the help of this game the student will have a much better understanding of the subject.

Reflection 1: Place Value Pirates

Place Value Pirates

Place Value Pirates is a fun interactive game to help the student understand place value with decimals. The object of the game is to identify the pirate that has the correct number in the right place value. The number the student must identify flashes on top of the screen. The student has a time limit of two minutes to click on one of the five pirates. The student must click, on the pirate with the correct place value number. If the student is correct the pirate disappears and another pirate takes the place with a different number. If the student is wrong the pirate strikes his sword a few times with yours (the clicker) and grunts at you. The student must identify at least one pirate correct to move to the next round. Each round is harder with larger numbers. This game is very pleasing to the senses. The graphics are very well done, from realistic looking pirates to sparkling treasure. The music is exciting and exhilarating, although it would be wise to invest in earphones for each student so the room is not echoing with 28 theme songs going at the same time. The music is the theme song from the Disney film “Pirates of the Caribbean”. The pirate theme, music and the time limit enhances all elements of excitement to the user. The only thing missing is the smell of the seashore and sweaty pirates. One negative thing about this game is the numbers on the pirates are a little small. Another negative aspect is that the game could be frustrating for students that are slow. On the other hand the time helps competitive students want to do better. The developer could have put a flag in the game so the teacher could set the time for each individual student. Place Value Pirates will be used in the place value math unit. Math time is approximately 65 minutes each day. Students will play Place Value Pirates as a self starter for math. The students will play for 10-15 minutes before the lesson begins. Practice, practice, practice is a must in math. It is essential that concepts are repetitive so the brain can absorb it. This game will allow the student to remember the concepts taught on place value. For those students that are interested we will have a “Place Value Pirate Tournament” at the end of the unit.

Video Week 5: Millenial Generation

This video brought up some good questions and statements. The idea of having everything you want to do accesible with no limitations sounds amazing and we aren't far from it. When I think about it, it seems that the world is more like Star Trek than ever. I remember the first time I saw someone with a blue tooth in a store. I thought the person was talking to himself. Imagine what the pioneers would think. Even my generation can get overwhelmed by new technology if they don't have an open mind. I laughed when the kid in the video told about how he has to help his mom with her cell phone because I can relate. I haven't got the texting thing down yet and my kids have been showing me how but I am S--L--O--W! I love the idea of not having a credit card too, as one of the kids in the video mentioned, since mine was hacked into over three weeks ago and the new one still hasn't arrived! I would also love to see voice activated computers, keyboarding would be obsolete. The millenial generation will be the ones to bring us these cutting edge technologies because they have open minds and are excited about technology.

Week 4: Reflection

When we were asked to create a document together in microsoft, I thought that microsoft must have a cool tool like google docs. As my pod started to work on it, we realized that microsoft didn't have a tool where we could each work on the paper and our work would appear like google docs. Working with microsoft is okay if we are creating a paper by ourselves but when working together I would much rather use google docs. In my class room I will probably use google docs more often because it can pretty much do everything microsoft word can. I didn't know there was such a thing before this class. I told a coworker about google docs and he just recently was introduced to it too. He also thinks it is awesome.

Since most people are familiar with microsoft, it would be good for my students to use if they need to type a report. I think it would be fun to introduce them to google docs though for assignments that require more than one student. I think my students would enjoy watching their friends work appear on screen.

I think my students would enjoy learning new technology but some parents might be reluctant to help them. Some people are afraid of changing from something they are used to. For example, the media told the American people months ago that their rabbit ears will not work after a certain date in February. The media used all kinds of communication to let people know so it wouldn't be a surprise when it was time to change. Amazingly, there are a good number of people that aren't ready for the change. In fact there are so many that congress is trying to push the date back. This is a nation wide example of how people deal with change. When they are used to doing things a certain way sometimes it takes a bull dozer to get them off the couch.

Video Week 4: Did You Know 2.0?

Wow! This video gave me something to think about. There were so many facts that I had no idea were out there. I love how the video presented the information. It really got my emotions going. I have mixed feelings about technology taking over. I love new things and think it is great to have "shift happen". On the other hand sometimes technology has it's cracks. I haven't had a credit card for a few weeks because of a hacker. It has been totally inconveniant without a card. Many businesses don't accept checks anymore and who carries cash anymore? Very eye opening video.