Blog Journal # 1

I think that technology is important in teaching because it can present the material in a way that the students can understand better than just reading it from a book. Some people are visual learners so seeing a PowerPoint with some pictures may help them remember and learn the subject more easily. Things such as the SmartBoards are helpful in the classroom because the teacher can easily pull up pages on the computer and highlight important parts for the students to see.

In this class I hope to become more computer literate so that I can use technology to deliver lessons when I am a teacher. I am considering becoming a math teacher and if I do then I could use certain softwares with drill-and-practice programs. The use of databases and spreadsheets would allow me to keep track and calculate grades more easily than writing them down and doing them all by hand at the end of each marking period.

I feel a little strange writing this blog, but here it goes... I want to be a teacher, although I am undecided as to what age group and subject yet. I am the second out of seven kids so I think that will help me to be a more patient and understanding teacher because I'm used to the chaos and noise that a classroom can contain. I'm really excited for this class because I'm eager to learn new ways and ideas of how to use technology to not only further advance my personal knowledge and use of the internet, but to help me in my future career.

Practice

Blog Journal #0

I have been using technology since I was in Elementary School. We went to computer class twice a week and learned how to use Microsoft programs as well as how to type. In High School I often used Microsoft Word to type up any papers that I had for school. Now that I'm older I use technology more for pleasure than for work, I use the internet and things such as Facebook and Skype to keep in touch with my friends from high school who are at other colleges. I also use technology such as iTunes to listen to music and watching television to help me relax.

In this class I hope to learn how to use technology a little bit better. I'm pretty good with things such as Microsoft but I would like to become more skilled in it. I would also like to learn ways of how to incorporate this technology into classrooms that I may teach in. I am interested in learning more about blogging because I have never read or wrote a blog before.

Today I learned that I am a more visual learner and respond well to seeing images and learning through examples. This will help me when I become a teacher because I can relate more to those students who are also visual learners. I learned that I am also a sensing learner, meaning that I like to learn facts, this can help me if I have trouble deciding what subject I should teach because a subject like Math would be better for my learning style than something more abstract such as English. Overall I think that knowing what your personal learning style is and understanding the different learning styles can help you become a better teacher.