Issues and Trends

Our technological world is growing, so the use of technology in the classrooms is also become more common. One of the newer trends is using mobile devices in the classroom, bringing these devices into the classroom offers another approach to learning. It allows the teachers and students to access information in a new and different way, with more options for interaction. I have been in a classroom where each student had an iPads, and I really do think that it offers more to the students, as they had access to more practice when they had free time. Kids in this generation have grown up using mobile devices whether it is iPads, tablets, smart phones, etc., so it makes sense that we bring what they know into the classroom in the means to advance their learning.

Fair use is a section of the Copyright law that gives people limited use of copyrighted material without the copyright owner’s permission. This is very important because is allows people to use parts of a copyrighted piece without having to pay the copyright owner. For us teachers this is very important, because we need to be aware of what we are using in our classroom, and what we are showing our students.

The ARL (Association of Research Libraries) estimated that the industries reliant on fair use contributed approximately 17 percent of the US GDP, or $2.4 trillion.

http://fairuseweek.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/ARL-FUW-Infographic-r4.pdf

Week 3 Discussion Post

My final project will be a 3^rd grade science-based lesson that has to do with Ecosystems. It will focus more on the interactions and dynamics of the individuals in the ecosystem, and the things that they do to protect themselves, and or the others in the ecosystem. The students will be assigned an ecosystem and ask to research the ecosystem and more specifically a specific species that lives with in the ecosystem.

Resource One

Title of the resource: Arctic Ecosystem

URL: http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/ipy07.sci.life.eco.arcticecosys/arctic-ecosystem/

How you found it: PBS learning Media (learning portal)

How you might use it in your final project: This resource could very well be used in my final project as a resource for the students. With the different research that the students will be doing this will help in the initial research of the ecosystem, and all of the different species present. Once they have done this they can make a choice on which animal they would like to look deeper into. Being able to look and examine an ecosystem (like the arctic) it will help the students get an idea of how this specific ecosystem might work.

What standards does the resource address:

3-LS4-3.	Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
3-LS2-1.	Construct an argument that some animals form groups that help members survive.

Resource Two

Title of the resource: Home Sweet Habitat

URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p15IrEuhYmo

How you found it: As I completed research for Personal Learning Network, I came across this YouTube channel; it was on a list of top YouTube channels for educators to follow. 

How you might use it in your final project: This will be a great way to start the lesson in my final project. Introducing some of the main ideas that the students will be looking at while completing this assignment with a video will really grab the attention of the students. They will be able to get a glimpse of what it is they will be looking for and how it affects the species living.

What standards does the resource address:

3-LS4-4.	Make a claim about the merit of a solution to a problem caused when the environment changes and the types of plants and animals that live there may change.
3-LS2-1.	Construct an argument that some animals form groups that help members survive.

Title of the resource: BrainPop

URL: https://www.brainpop.com/search/?keyword=Ecosystems

How you found it: BrainPop is something that is familiar to me. When I was in Elementary and middle school we would watch these videos very frequently.

How you might use it in your final project: These videos would be watched on an individual level. The students would use these as a base to the research of their ecosystem. This will be a starter for them, give them a little boost to start their research. Although these videos may not have in-depth information on the species that they are researching it will have information on the ecosystem.

What standards does the resource address:

3-LS4-3.

Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.

Educational Myths

I thought all educational myths on the list to be very interesting, quiet honestly eye opening. I found myself questioning things that I have learned in the past as I was reading. This alone makes me think very hard about all that I have learned over the years, and my ideas on how I want my classroom to run.

The article I remember 10% of what I … was the most surprising to me because this is something that has been talked about in more then one of the classes that I have been in. Not to mention I can recall being showed this exact graph in at least one of them. This is truly terrifying that even with the data to back up this myth and the direct quote from the author, that there are still people and more importantly professors still using this material to teach the future teachers of the world.

I wouldn’t say that I had already dismissed the idea talked about in Are your students engaged? Don’t be so sure, but as I was reading the article some of the ideas talked about were things that I have already thought about, and discussed in other classes.

As I read through the article on Multiple Intelligences, I found it to be a little humorous, because while I was working at a preschool a couple years back this was the core of how they worked through the daily lessons. They thought about all the students, and worked the lesson to address all 8 intelligences.   

There is research to back these educational myths, and I think that sharing and talking about how crucial it is that the educators of the world have the right information will have a positive impact on how classrooms are taught.

Blogs in the Classroom

Blogs are a great resource for teachers to use, there are so many different things that can be done with blogs within a classroom. I do believe that I will use blogs in my future classroom for many different things. They can be used as a form of assessment of writing assignments to tracking students progress on a project. I also believe that it is a great way to keep your students connected in each other's learning. It's a resource for asking questions and creating discussions on work that the students have done!

As a teacher I think that I will have a blog of my own, this will allow for open communication to the parents and the students. Through this blog I will be able show the parents through pictures what is happening in the class, and what their student will be learning and doing in the class through out the week. With this blog the parents are also able to comment and ask questions about what is going on in the classroom, increasing communication and understanding of classroom activities. Blogs are a tool that will help teachers, students, and parents experience the school day in a new light. 

Learner Analysis

I did my learner analysis on Stuart Minkus. 

Academically, Minkus is a very successful student. He excels in all subjects, and very rarely struggles with school. Minkus is a very engaged student and it shows through the high grades that he receives. Although he may be a good student, he often blurts out, and corrects other students and on some occasions other teachers. School is of much importance to Minkus, failure is not an option for him, so when it does happen that he is not correct, or excelling, it causes problems to his life.  From observations, I would say that the socioeconomic status of this student would be middle class. 

If Minkus was in my class, I would make sure that there was extra material that will challenge him academically. He is a student that needs to be challenged, and pushed. As his teacher, I would also take the time to talk one-on-one with him about the disruption that he makes when he blurts out. While talking with him, we would discuss when it would be a good time to express his thoughts and ideas. 

Minkus is only 11 years old, so no, he is not 'college ready'. However, if he continues to attack his education the way that he has so far, when time comes for him to start college there is no doubt in my mind that he will be more then college ready. 

About Me

Hi, my name is Laurel. I am pursuing an Elementary certification with an emphasis in integrated science. I will be graduating in December after the completion of my Student Teaching.
I am from a smaller town outside of Chicago, and have been at Grand valley for 4 years. I enjoy being with my family, painting, cooking, and I love going on adventures!

I have not had much experience with planning lessons with the use of technology, however, in my last placement there was quite a bit of technology used (iPads, Elmo, etc). I am looking forward to learning more was to incorporate technology into the classroom.