Chapter 5 Blog

Chapter 5 was about integrating digital media and educational software applications. The term "mulitmedia" means "more than one media." This implies that it has a variety of elements, including text, graphics, audio, video and animation. Multimedia was not always digital. Digital media is defined as technologies that allow users to create new forms of interaction, expression communication and entertainment in a digital format. There is digital media software and interactive digital media available to us today. A digital media application involves the use of digital media technology in education, business and entertainment. This can include computer-based or web-based training, electronic books/references, how-to guides, digital media newspapers, magazines and journals, entertainment, virtual reality, kiosks, world wide web, schooling, and professional development training. An educational software application refers to computer software products used to support teaching and learning of subject-related content. This can come in practice software, educational games, tutorials, etc. There are several different applications, like creativity, critical-thinking, early learning, ESL/foreign language, language arts, math, science, and social studies. Digital media presentations can be presented on data projectors or interactive whiteboards.

I never really learned how to use PowerPoint, I just kind of figured out what I needed to on my own whenever I needed to use it through high school - which wasn't very often. So this week I certainly learned a bit more abour PowerPoint from the videos and completing an assignment that actually had guidelines for what was needed in my PowerPoint. Working in a K-2 grade level I don't know that I will really get much use out of PowerPoints, but I'm sure I could find a couple uses. For example, maybe to use as a presentation for the parents for orientations and/or other events. Also, I could probably find at least one thing that's fun and interesting to do with PowerPoint that the kids could watch and learn from.

I have started my service learning, and it was fun. I went to a middle school classroom on Friday and spent about an hour and a half in there. It was a health class, and they were playing Jeopardy to study for a test. For any of you wanting to teach middle schoolers, all I have to say is... GOOD LUCK!! There were like 20 kids packed in this small classroom, and they were so talkative - and quite rude to one another! I would never be able to put up with all that! For those that think handling elementary school children is hard, go spend time in a middle school classroom. Ha, I guess little 5-year-olds are more my thing! See you all in class!!

Chapter 2 Post

The main idea discussed in Chapter 2 is communication, sometimes called telecommunication. Communication is a process in which two or more computers or devices transfer data, instructions and informations. A communicatinos network is a group of computers and other equipment that is organized to share data, informations, hardware and software. A basic communications system consists of two computers, communications devices, a communications channel and communications software. Communication uses digital and analog signals to represent data. There are several types of modems in use today. For example, internal modems, network interface cards(NIC's), local area networks(LAN), wireless networks(WLAN), wide area networks(WAN), and home networks. Many schools have installed networks. The world's largest network is the Internet, a worldwide collection of networks that link together millions of bussinesses, educational institutes, goverments and individuals. The networks within the Internet are considered nets. The Internet allows us to do many great and complex things. The end of the chapter dicusses a lot about web pages and the World Wide Web. It was interesting, but it is a lot to discuss. I am excited to learn more about it and make out own web pages. The end of the chapter also touches on a few different aspects of the internet, like e-mail, message boards, chat rooms and instant messaging.

This week I learned several things. For starters, the webhunt brushed up my skills on an internet search engine. Also, I took the SAM Microsoft Word 2007 Practice Test and learned quite a bit. I already know some of the information, and I learned a couple of the new actions, and still don't know a few that I got wrong. Lastly, from the book I tried to interpret and take things that I could use in my classroom. Getting the kids involved in the internet would be fun! I saw the ePal website and I think it is neat. For anyone interested, on pages 132-134 there is a list of search tools that are reccommended for/by teachers.

I've started signing up for some of my service learning hours and I'm getting excited! So far I've signed up for a couple hours in Middle school health, Middle school science, and Middle/High school web design & computers. I'm really looking forward to working in the elementary level, but those slots haven't opened yet. I'm looking into going to Florida State High School and spending a couple of hours in one of their education classes because aside from Elementary Education, I want to loko into teaching high school child development course so that I can coach cheerleading! Ha! Also, Margaret and I are giong to try to set up som hours going to a Catholic school. I'm very excited about my service learning!

Post #3

Chapter 4 was quite a bit more technical than the other chapters, and that made it more confusing for me. A system unit is a boxlike case that houses the electronic components a computer uses to process data. Most computers only understand the states "on" and "off" because they are digital. A 0 is used to represent the electronic state of off (absence of an electric charge), and a 1 is used to represent the electronic state of on (presence of an electric charge). This numbering system is referred to as the binary system, and each on or off digital value is called a bit. When eight bits are grouped together, they are called a byte. There are many components of a system unit. This includes: the motherboard, the Central Processing Unit(CPU), the control unit, the system clock, the arithmetic/logic unit, memory, random access memory(RAM), read-only memory(ROM), flash memory, expansion slots and cards, removable memory devices, and ports and connectors. Each of these components have many internal components as well. Input is what you enter into the memory of a computer. Examples of input devices are keyboards, mouses, digital cameras, audio/video input, etc. On the other hand, output is data that has been processed into a useful form called information. Examples of output devices are display devices, televisions, printers, projectors, speakers, etc. Storage stores data, instructions, and information when they are not being processed. Chapter 4 ends with lots of information on the different storage and media devices.

I have learned several interesting things with technology this week. Last week in class, we learned about the program Inspiration. I have been goofing around with it, and doing my assignment of course, and it really is a lot of fun. I really find it helpful, and it will be a great teaching tool to use when I begin teaching. Also, I listened to one of the podcasts, but I didn't really focus on it. For some reason I don't really like the idea of podcasts? Oh well!

Wow, what to talk about here? Well, I have this paper that I need to write for my Intro to Education class. I'm not really sure what my topic is yet, but my ideas are class size, home-schooling or alternative teaching certification. I must look at the topic as a problem, and describe it from a teacher's perspective. Also, I need to address how the administration, school district and community are also involved, or not involved, with the issue. I better get to writing!