Research Prompt #3

Each week, I am trying to decide what is most important to do by figuring out what it is that I am good at and what I need a little more work on. I try to spend the most time on larger projects that are worth more points and that I need to focus harder on as opossed to blog entrys that could take me five minutes. Sometimes it doesn't always work out the way i planned and I don't spend as much time on projects that I should really be giving my all to. I am really involved in my sorority and other classes, and it is a really stressful semester for me! I try my hardest to do my best and try to complete my assignments on time. I need to start asking questions more when I have a problem with stuff on my assignments.
Until this week i didn't know how to use excel. I had seen it in my office and I worked on it over the summer, but I didn't know all of the stuff you can use on it, especially like adding in numbers and getting averages.
So far in this class, I have figured out that to understand what’s going on, I have to pay attention to my professor and ask many questions when I am in class, so that I can understand what is going on and not have to be confused when I don't ask questions and try to do it by myself.

Research Prompt #2

I believe for the most part my powerpoint payed off. I feel like I may have been forgetting a few items that needed to be there or somthing may not have been good enough because I am not too creative! This week I will try to ask more questions on my excel project so that it is completed and 100% perfect. I will change the fact that I need to spend probably a little more time on my project so that I can get a perfect score. That is my goal for this week.
This week the most important thing I got out of class was learning how to do excel. I didn't know a lot of the different items used on this program. I still have a lot of questions, but I know I will be able to accomplish it because it doesn't seem too complicated. This is just like last week. I was really worried about my powerpoint because I had never used it the way we were supposed to, but once I got the hang of things it was really easy for me to do.
There is a definate relationship for this class and how you do the assignments. Without coming to class, I don't think anyone would fully understand how to accomplish these tasks, unless you were really talented on the computer. You really need to come to class to see how the teacher presents the information and how she would like you to apply it to the assignments that are to be completed.

Research Topic #1

This class will play a very important role in my academic plans for many reasons. I plan on going into the education field and I feel this class has greatly prepared me. I know now how to use many different programs on the computer I once knew nothing about. I feel better prepared to use lesson plans and make them on my computer. I also feel better prepared to go on to higher, advanced classes. I feel that learning about the basic essentials such as word and powerpoint will help me to be more creative with my projects in the future of higher learning.
The one assignment I worked most on this week was powerpoint number two. I didn't realize how easy it was once I got the hang of things. It's kind of tough because I have an Apple computer, and I did a lot of the assignment on the pc's we have in class. My apple works a little differently and it took a little getting used to. I had to ask my roomate who had an apple as well how to work a few of the items on powerpoint. It took about a week to complete the project. I would save it on my computer and work a little bit on it every day until it was completed. I did my presentation on William Shakespeare's works of art. I am an English major and I found it useful and interesting seems as though I am an english education major.
The most impotant thing I got out of class this week was how to do these sort of presentations on powerpoint. I wasn't sure how at first to link the powerpoint windows together, but I learned how to hyperlink the pages and set them up accordingly.

Blog #8

Today I just read chapter 8 of my textbook. I have learned a lot reading this and would like to discuss it. On of these things was security issues on a computer. Many computers can receive viruses. A virus is a computer program that is used to purposely harm your computer. I learned about how you can protect your computer from these such viruses. There really isn’t any way you can protect your computer from not receiving them at all, but a person should know what they can do to possibly avoid getting one. A virus can be transferred from the internet and you should avoid opening any emails or download anything to your computer that isn’t secure. I also learned about computer ethics which is the moral guidelines that govern the use of computers and their unauthorized use of computers, hardware, software and information theft, and information privacy. This speaks about the issues surrounding privacy and copyrights. The last thing I want to touch on that I learned is about emerging technologies. The types of emerging technologies I learned is digital media revolution, the worldwide web, educational software on DVD, assistive technologies, web and video enhanced digital textbooks, and web based distance learning.
I have learned since my last posting a lot about power point. Since we weren’t able to do it in class, my cousin taught me all I need to know and I feel like I could use anything on my computer. I also am learning more on Microsoft works and am able to handle more than I did before.
I am hoping that in the future, I am able to use powerpoint and master it. I want to go to either law school or graduate school and get my masters in psycology. No matter what path I choose to go down, I know I am going to need to know and master different functions of a computer, whether it be in an office typing up presentations, or in a classroom with students.

Blog #7

I just read chapter 6 in my textbook entitled, "Technology, Digital Media, and Curriculum Integration." This chapter gave me some very useful information, such as curriculum, and how it should be applied to the classroom. Teachers can use curriculums to not only get recommendations, but also for curriculum-based lesson plans. I also learned about technology and curriculum integrations. Technology integration and curriculum integration is the same. It is a combination of all technology parts mixed in with subject-area curriculum to hel students advance in learning. However, this is not an easy thing to learn. This form of integration cannot be beneficial to students, if the teacher does not know what they are doing! This is a very important form for learning, because the technology feeds into the curriculum and helps children of all diverse learning to succeed. I also learned a lot about a model called the ASSURE Model, which is a procedural guide for delivering and planning instruction which helps integrate technology into the teaching process. This model has six steps. First, Analyze the learner. The teacher needs to know who their learners are, and what type of learning style fits them best. Secondly, State objectives; the teacher needs to figure out what they want the learner to get out of their instruction. Next is Select methods, media and material; what is appropriate and what are ou going to use to teach the learners. Fourth method in the Assure model is, Utilize methods, media and materials. How will the teacher use these methods and material to teach the learners. Next, the teacher must Require learning participation. What will the learners do during this time? All the students should be involved to help them to better learn. Lastly, the teacher must evaluate and revise. Did this lesson help teach the children? Could anything be revised? I also learned about the different learning theories and educational research. I found out that learning theories help the teacher to form instructional strategies and use technology integration into their teaching. In educational research, teachers learn to combine different educational strategies in the curriculum with technology to see what works best for their students.
Since my last post, I have still been practicing the microsoft word practice test. It is really difficult for me, because I feel that it doesn't give much description with what it wants you to do. I am not a very creative person on the computer, so it is hard for me to easily pick up on new information right away. I need to start learning to better see the different ways I can make my projects more creative.
I really want to go to law school and try my luck with that. I feel this class will help me to succeed in graduate school, because im sure a lot of microsoft word and excel will be used to create spread sheets. I worked at a law firm all through high school, and I know how difficult it is and how much information needs to be added to the computer. I know that this class will help me to feel more comfortable on the computer so it will make my job in the long run easier. If I choose to go down a different path, computer skills will always be beneficial whatever you do.

Post #6

Today I read Chapter 5 of my textbook, and learned a lot about integrating digital media and educational software applications. I first read about digital media applications, which are those technologies that would allow the user to make new ways to interact and express over the computer. To make this possible, the user would use digital media software. This is any computer-based application software that uses multi-media elements such as text, graphics, animation, audio and video. I also learned about educational software applications as well, which is related to computer software programs which are used for learning in the classroom.
I haven’t really learned any new techniques. I really feel that I need to work on my Microsoft works skills, because I only got half of them right on the quiz. I feel like that was the most difficult quiz I have had to do so far in this class. I also need to work on my skills with being creative, because I am not very good at that!
There isn’t really anything I would like to discuss with the class from last time until now, except for the fact that I still feel like I am not doing as well as everyone else on my Microsoft word and being creative. Hopefully with time and a lot of practice, I will be able to be just as technical as the other students.

Post #5

Chapter 7 is based on educational techniques and integration studies. Chapter 7 shows the different forms of educational technology and what is suitable to use in the classroom. There are a few ways to determine if a form of technology is appropriate. One must first ask if the concept is educational and motivational. The educational technology must also be suitable and managable for the age it is being taught to. Also, does the information given fit the certain cirriculum the teacher is trying to achieve. This chapter gives many ways a teacher can tell what works and what doesn't. To create an educational webpage for students to use, teachers must evaluate the content, technical support, ability levels, audience and design to just name a few. It is very important that a teacher follows these instructions to help their students to succeed.
Since my last post, I have been practicing the microsoft word practice test. It is really difficult for me, because I feel that it doesn't give much description with what it wants you to do. Hopefully I do well on the test. I am not a very creative person on the computer, so it is hard for me to easily pick up on new information right away.
I reallt want to go to law school and try my luck with that. I feel this class will help me to suceed in graduate school, because im sure a lot of microsoft word and excel will be used to create spread sheets. I worked at a law firm all through high school, and I know how difficult it is and how much information needs to be added to the computer. I know that this class will help me to feel more comfortable on the computer so it will make my job in the long run easier.