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Monday, August 24, 2009

Welcome! Fall 2009

Welcome to our course!

Please introduce yourself to the group. Describe yourself in terms of your technological competencies. Explain why you are taking this course. What does "teaching and learning with technology" mean to you.

13 comments:

Katie Dietrich said...

In terms of technological competencies, I think that I have had a decent amount of experience with technology in the past. I am well acquainted with all of the Microsoft Office applications as well as several others, and am always looking to learn more. I am a fast learner and am definitely interested in expanding my knowledge of technology for the classroom.

"Teaching and learning with technology" to me means a hand-in-hand collaboration between students, teachers, and technology. It is the study of how to appropriately and successfully integrate technology into a classroom for the benefit of all involved.

Kathleen Ellison said...

My technology experience comes from many failed trials, but now I feel very comfortable with several different aspects of technology. I was a PC user all of my life until I came to college when I switched over to Mac. I have fully explored the different programs that Mac offers, and now I feel very comfortable with both systems. I have also had to create many projects for school as well as my family and friends using both systems, allowing me to understand how to use different media-making software. I am not very good with computer hardware and most troubleshooting issues, but my own personal computers have had enough problems in the past where simple issues I can now fix on my own.

Teaching and learning with technology is a very important aspect of teaching. To me, it is now a necessity for teachers in any field to understand how to use technology to help teach their subject. Students are growing up with all of this new technology all around them, and it is just one way of helping connect the two generations together. In addition, it creates many more opportunities to get students to interact with the subject and get more involved. In the end, technology is something that is going to be ever-present, and therefore something that will forever be in our classrooms.

jbaffes said...

I would say that I am pretty savvy when it comes to microsoft word and powerpoint and the basic foundations of computers, but when it comes to making and creating a website or using things like smartboard, I am completely lost. That is mainly my reasoning for taking this course. I am going to be a teacher and I would like to implement technology in my classroom, and I think this class would help me to do so. To me, "teaching and learning with technology" means using technology to enhance your teaching skills and create a learning experience that incorporates technology.

awilkey said...

Unfortunately, I have limited technological competencies. Once I have figured out how to use a program, or other type of technology, I love to use it! I am taking this course this year to convince myself that technology CAN be used by those of us who have trouble utilizing it. I want to discover a new love for the possibilities that technology can bring to the classroom. Teaching and learning with technology is very important to me, even though it can be a challenge for me. I believe that using it correctly can enhance lessons and prepare students for the "real world"! Technology is evolving fast, and I believe the classroom should evolve right along with it.

Danielle said...

As far as technology goes, I would say I am moderately competent. I am familiar with Windows and Macs, which often seems helpful for me. I am only familiar with the basic uses of Excel, but can use the more advanced parts of Powerpoint and Word. I am taking this course because I feel that technology can be very useful in teaching and learning mathematics. However, I am not familiar with many ways do to so. Thus, I am eager to learn as much about technological advancements in this class as possible. I believe that math is a subject that needs to be presented in a variety of ways in order for each student to understand. Therefore, "teaching and learning with technology" means providing my students with a better opportunity to learn.

cbarnish said...

I'd say that I am fairly technological competent. I know how to use PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Publisher and those programs pretty well but when it comes to using smart board and all those other programs I am lost.

I am taking this course for that very reason to become more competent with the programs I don't know how to use very well.

Teaching and learning with technology to me means being able to be competent with the technology. Also being confident enough to be able to teach with the technology. But also keeping an open mind and learning all the new features that technology is constantly throwing at you.

jmonaco said...

In my family, I have always been the person to go to when someone is confused with the computer, the television, or set-up of any other technology based device. I've learned to be able to figure things out or to access resources to help in solving the problem.

I am taking this course to learn how to use different resources in the classroom to optimize each student's learning experience and to cater to the needs of each different type of learner. Teaching with technology means that I, as a teacher, will be expressing the content in a variety of ways with technology. Since technology is an ever-changing and improving collection of resources, I will also be continually learning how to use new tools that will aid the students in absorbing information.

It is important for a teacher to not get too caught up with technology in the classroom and make sure that each student's learning needs are met.

Katelyn said...

I am taking this course in order to increase my knowledge of technology. I tend to get frustrated with technology, and I am not very tech savvy. Once I got used to using a PC, the Mac came along and I was confused again on how to use the various applications. I am hoping this course will help me become more confident in my technology abilities.

I am taking this course so that I will be able to use technology to teach in a more efficient way. Technology in the classroom can make content easier for children to understand and therefore, be a very effective learning tool. Students are able to get a visual that is much more interesting and effective than just reading about the concept in a book.

Jess Madigan said...

According to my brothers, I am computer illiterate. Speaking for myself, however, I am competent. I can get around on a computer and even trouble shoot at times. I can make Power Points with videos and pictures. My only downfall would have to be Smart Boards. I have never used a Smart Board and only observed a teacher using one twice. I am taking this course to become more familiar with Smart Boards, as they are in many schools. I am also taking this course to be put in real life situations and prepare lessons with high school level math, which I have yet to do at Wesleyan. I think that enacting classroom scenarios using technology will be a big help in visualizing what it will be like in a classroom.
Teaching and learning with technology means using technology to enhance a learning experience. Technology should never overshadow class concepts, instead technology should aide a lesson.

Ben D. said...

When it comes to my abilities technologically, I would say that I am not too knowledgeable yet, but I am a decently quick learner. I tend to pick up things quite easily, especially when I am interested in the topic.

The reason behind me enrolling in this course is so I can have a better understanding of how to incorporate technology into teaching in a way that is exciting yet informative. Using technology in the classroom will allow myself to create a fun, innovative way for my future students to learn.

In my opinion, teaching and learning with technology means that both teachers and students can benefit from utilizing technology within the classroom. This can create a new way for the teacher to connect with his/her students.

cmcmahon said...

Hi my name is Caroline McMahon. I am a sophomore elementary education major and french minor. I am very limited with my use of technology, so I am hoping after taking this course I will become more familiar with different programs such as smartboard, excel, and wikispaces. I hope to use this information to expand my style of teaching so I will be able to teach students of all different learning styles. "Teaching and learning with technology," to me, means that technology can be used as a tool that can meet the needs of each teacher and students different type of teaching or learning style. It helps create another form of communication between students and teachers.

Carlie said...

In general I'm not that good with computers and I suppose that is because I can get impatient when I can't figure out how something works initially. However, I am using my laptop all the time for schoolwork and I've had experience using a smartboard to teach a few lessons. I am taking this course to learn more about computers as well as exploring other resources that I am unaware of that will benefit me in my future teaching career. For me, "teaching and learning with technology" is a great visual and hands on way to teach and interact with students within a classroom.

Klee said...

I am not the best when it comes to technological competency. All my life I have worked with PC's, and like Kathleen, have switched over to a Mac for college. It was a difficult transition at first, but I am glad I made the switch. I have learned a lot already, and am really looking to learning more in this course. For the past two years, I have worked in the Thorpe Digital Center at Ames. It is our job to help people when they have problems with their computers. The training I have received there has helped me a great deal, but there is still a great deal more to learn. I want to make my classroom as interesting as possible, and I feel like this class will give me the knowledge to do so.

"Teaching and learning with technology" means that we use electronics and other digital means to help others learn. It is important for teachers to use the latest technology in class because it enriches the learning experience. There are so many things you can do with technology, and it would be great if everyone could learn to use technology at a young age. If everyone used technology at a young age, the technology field would grow exponentially.