NAEYC is all about CHILDREN!!

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is dedicated to improving the well-being of all young children, with particular focus on the quality of educational and developmental services for all children from birth through age 8. NAEYC is committed to becoming an increasingly high performing and inclusive organization. Yes there is a fee to becoming a member, I tried looking for the fee but I think you have to go through the application in order to see what it totals. There are certain things you can either add or just keep a regular membership. There are so many links to access. You can build your library getting 6 books a years for becoming a member. There are also articles that can help you along your journey of teaching. One that caught my eye was "Technology in the Early Childhood programs". I thought it fit pretty good since our EDU271 class is all about. There are also forums where you can speak to other aspiring or current teachers like you. I'm sure you can chat about anything in there to boost self esteem and learn from others. I could actually use this in the future. In order to become a success you must learn from others. I feel that this is a great way to start. Imagine yourself where you are now and what you could become if you simply just invest time and a little bit of money. Getting ideas, hearing experiences from others, and learning new interesting things to bring to the classroom can give anyone a great leap of faith. I know this site NAEYC can give much power to anyone who insist on grabbing it.

Keeping My Page

I thought about this after Dr. Keesee asked me if I would keep my blog. I know that the semester is coming to an end, but I like to blog. Granted this was my first blog experience ever, but I feel like I should keep this. If you still want to follow, please do. I will update in the future and keep posting about my experiences as I progress to my goals. I'm glad to meet all of you and good luck on all your future endeavors!!

***Angie***

SKYPE with Danielle

Out of all the assignments we have had in this class I finally found one I really enjoyed. I used Skype which you can download for free and be able to communicate with others around the world near and far. You can chat on microphone or through typing and you can also video to see one another. I have used Skype before especially with my husband being deployed. I have also used with with many of my good friends who have moved from being deployed too. But today I "skyped" with Danielle. She is in my EDU271 class. We are working on unit lessons and we basically talked about what was needed to be done. She asked questions about the resources and references link and what needed to be put in there. We came down to the conclusion that we needed to put things like where we got our information from on the internet and any resources like our venn diagram and powerpoint used in our lessons as well. We connected with webcam and spoke through our mics so we didn't have to type. It was easy, fun, and informative at the same time. I could use Skype in the classroom with parents who can't come to conferences about their child. I can also use this in my classroom with students who are sick at home like the flu or anything that keeps them from coming to school, to keep in contact and informed on anything missed while they were gone. Skype is a great tool for communication. You can also do projects with it if you can get up with another class in the building and connect, have children explore, and use Skype. With Danielle we didn't run into any obstacles we both pretty much knew how to use and explore with Skype. Some advantages of Skype would be being able to stay in contact with those far away, still being able to see them live, and it makes you feel like they are really there. It's a great way to stay connected. Sometime in the past, I have lost connection on Skype and it was hard to connect especially when the server is being used all at once with many soldiers trying to see their loved ones at home. That is one disadvantage that I can say I have ever run into. Sometimes it was to the point where it would be the next day before we got in contact again. Overall I think it has lots of benefits for families and even for schools. We just have to use our imagination!

Reflections of Blogging

As I look through my blogs from the beginning of the school semester, I found it hard to understand as person just reading it. I say that because I am putting myself as a person just reading it and not actually understanding what we know it to be as a class. I basically wanted to get the assignments done and just put in the effort of what needed to be said. I felt by the passing weeks I knew more about technology and how it can be an effective teaching tool. I know how spreadsheets, podcast, word, and much more can be incorporated into lesson plans. Not only for the teacher to use but for the students as well. Giving them hands on experience is a great way for them to understand and knowledge to use technology. It's important for them to learn at such a young age because our ever changing world. In my first entry into my blog I talked about my goals. I said that I never blogged before, or used a wiki, and wasn't sure what else the class had to offer but I knew that I would come out more strong minded about technology and how it is used. I feel comfortable with WIKI's by just using it for the class, but learned that WIKI's are created for any type of information and how they could be used in the classroom setting. In the past few weeks I seen that I put forth more effort into my writings and made sense of what I was talking about. I made people understand that "Today in my EDU class we were talking about "...... and I would state what it was and what I learned. In the past few weeks I noticed that I tagged more than from the beginning about what my blog was about. Look I even embedded a video into my blog and I didn't know how to do that before. Knowledge is power, and I feel great about this class and what it had given me. I now feel confident going into the education field and come up with great innovated ideas for my future classroom.

Weather Youtube Video In My Classroom

I chose this video because I am doing weather for my final unit plan. I enjoyed watching this because my target students are older and not really meant for something kindergarten-like. I want my students to understand how weather works and how we predict weather and the importance of meteorologists have in our lives. I could use this in my classroom for such reasons for the facts of the video has. It covers precipitation, clouds,how storms are even formed. But there might be some obstacles to face when trying to use youtube in the classroom. I feel that teacher really need to watch the whole video before playing it in the classroom, which can be time consuming but it is our right to prepare and be ready to use in the class. Also it might be hard to have all observe at once unless using some type of smartboard to display it to the whole class. But with any type of learning with technology has their pros and cons. We as teachers just need to weight them before using them. Study what you are trying to incorporate into your classrooms, if you understand, it's easier for your students to understand.

TILT Iphones in the Classroom

http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/tilt-teachers-improving-learning/id75789488

This week in my EDU271 class we had to find a podcast based on technology being introduced into the classroom. I found this one in my Itunes be going to podcast on the side then in the search bar, I typed "technology in classroom". I first did "education" then other words like "education technology" but I found this one podcast called " TILT iphones in the classroom." I thought it was pretty interesting because to me, I don't think of an ipod as a learning source but after watching the video I was intrigued at the idea of incorporating one actually into my lesson planning. I am doing weather for my lesson plans (5th grade) and feel that this would be an amazing example to use! As a parent, my 5th grader loves her iphone. She is with that thing 24/7 and all I mostly see her do is download apps and text a whole lot. LOL but she is a good girl. ( Just thought I'd add that) But to get back to the point, the speakers name is Danny Maas. TILT stands for Teachers Improving Learning with Technology. I thought this was perfect for the class assignment for podcast.
There are four elements of the iPhone which make it a great educational tool for a teacher and students:

• Still/video camera and apps to edit/enhance photos
  
• Audio recorder
  
• iPod/iTunes
  
• Blogging apps

It was such an interesting 1omin podcast and after watching and listening to it, made me understand how it can be incorporated. He was talking about how children can take pictures with the iphone of something they did in class or for a project during class. They audio recorder can be used to record class lessons, student response to questions, and memos. Ipod/itunes can be used to find videos for class lessons, books, podcast, and much more. It varies on how you can use this in the classroom. My favorite part was about the applications (apps) that can be downloaded to your iphone for classroom use. For an example, me (myself) have a hard time with MLA format sometimes. There is an app for the iphone obviously not for all types of work cited but the main ones. Book, journal, magazine, website, and newspaper. It was pretty cool to use and self explanatory. Its called "iCitation". But what Danny was talking about in the podcast for the apps could be anything from math, social studies, pretty much anything you can think of for educational purpose. He even found one for word typing. You can actually type up a paper and do it on the iphone! You can also link up your iphone to a projector to be able to share with the class. Pretty cool huh!
I can use this or even give an idea to a teacher ( I don't work in a setting yet), but to use this in so many ways. Truly an iphone isn't just a phone/ gaming device. It also has features you can use for education technology wise. I would use this in my future class by having the students record their findings from a project. Say about dinosaurs and their features. We can then play it back to the class. The next group would say what certain dinosaurs ate and so on. I would more than definatly tell someone else about this podcast that I came across. However I did find it in my itunes, but if you go to google and put in "TILT iphones in the classroom" it comes up a whole page of podcast for examples of technology in classrooms! I pretty much chose this offhand because like I said before, I had no idea what iphones could be used for in the classroom! Great post and long but I enjoyed looking up this podcast.
After you click on the link provided above, it will bring you to the website of all TILT podcast. The one I viewed is the 4th one down.

Databases In My Classroom

Databases are pretty similar to spreadsheets. You can store a vast amount of information with databases. A database can be used to keep up with any information which you need to collect. I plan on using databases in my classroom by keeping track of my students.

• names
• attendance
• telephone number of home
• email of parents
• birthdays

There are a variety of ways to incorporate this into the classroom use. Depending on the topic/lesson involved, students can also insert data and process information from the database.
Advantages:

• create a visual for learning
• allow users to organize and manipulate large amounts of information
• compare and contrast data, rank importance

Disadvantages:

• Database systems are complex, difficult, and time-consuming to design
• Substantial hardware and software start-up costs
• Damage to database affects virtually all applications programs
• Extensive conversion costs in moving form a file-based system to a database system
• Initial training required for all programmers and users

Spreadsheets In My Classroom

Spreadsheets can be used for a variety of things. I can use it for myself as far recording the students in my class, what assignments are given and what are missing, to attendance too. But I can also use this in my classroom with my students as well. Children can better visualize numbers and how they vary from day to day; to say if the temperature has changed or not. I can use the spreadsheets in the classroom with lesson of weather across the USA. We can record different cities weather conditions and graph the information found.
Advantages
*children can visually see that if it rains in NC it might not be raining in other cities
*fun activity for all as a whole class
*can use something as easy as a smartboard instead of computers for every child
Disadvantages:
*lack of participation from students
* some children might not have access to computers at home to get recordings


I think this is a great way to get the students to understand the realization of weather can affect different areas at different times. Critical thinking and technology and concepts of the NETS are used in this spreadsheet idea.

Word Processing In My Classroom

I would use word processing in my classroom with creating a poem about how rainfall goes through each stage, water cycle's vocabulary (precipitation, condensation, evaporation, etc). assigning a group of three with writing a story about the adventures a drop of water has through the water cycle. Students can insert pictures, change the fonts, play with the outline whether its to be centered or not. Student can review before printing and share the poem with their class.
Advantages:
*students can use their creativity and innovation
* thinking of the lines with their groups in collaboration and discussion
*fun learning and not just your average handout
Disadvantages:
*time wise and limited source of computers
*would probably have to do rotations with the groups
*can create chaos in the group if one doesn't agree with the others ideas

This uses the NETS standards through creativity and innovation (poem), technology in the classroom (computers/printing) , and group peer work (group project).

Voki

Instructors can use a Voki avatar to introduce the course or topics. It can also be used to aid in instructing those who are more audio/visual learners. Voki is also a great way to get shy students involved or to share comments with students in other countries.

You can customize your Voki to look like you or take on the identity of lots of other types of characters--animals, monsters, anime etc. You can also add your own voice by phone, microphone, but can also type what you want your Voki to say. A teacher once used Voki to recite a poem to her kindergarten class.

Adiboo Discover Nature, Animals & Planets

In Adiboo: Discover Nature, Animals and Planets, children learn how plants grow, create culinary masterpieces in the kitchen, watch cartoons, and create masks among similar tasks. The game contains interactive hot spots that lead to mini-games or amusing animations, with Adiboo, an elf-like child, providing assistance along the way. "Knowledge Land" is the main focus of the title subject matter and is divided into five areas, each with its own activities and games. Kids will enjoy the quick, amusing animations accompanying each correct and incorrect answer, as well as Adiboo's songs and input on how they did, with treats including a second song.
The manual is excellent, but the game is missing a number of advertised features.The link used to return to Playland from Knowledge Land doesn't seem to work, the car intended for navigation in the Land of Knowledge is no where to be found, with an overhead view used instead.
Cost of game is $20.00

Operating System: Windows 95/98

Memory: 32MB RAM

Subject areas: science

Grade Levels: AGES 4-7

Mobile Computing Devices in the Classroom

Today's classrooms are starting to incorporate mobile computing devices in the classroom. Ipads, and ipods have more use than the average user would think. It has many advantages and disadvantages for its use.
The advantages have an amazing effect on their motivation to learn, engagement in learning activities, and support for learning processes. Being able to access the internet right from the classroom rather than having to move the whole class to the media room for internet use, can make for an easier task for the teacher. These mobile devices can help children use their imagination and help aid in the projects along the way.
However with advantages, there are also disadvantages too. These devices can get pretty pricey. I know that the parents are not going to all be able to afford it and raising money for them can be quite hard as well. Being able to maintain, update and make sure nothing is broken can turn out to be quite a headache on someone. It's a great tool for the classroom but coming up with the funding for one can be tricky.

Creativity and Innovation

This week in class has been tremendously interesting. I have learned many new things and one of them was creativity and innovation. This is one of the NETS standards. This week in my EDU 271 class, we watched a video on a unit lesson for dinosaurs. It was great to see how different technology can be used in the classroom to combine the lesson but at the same time different studies like math, science, etc. Smart-boards were used and children had hands on experience working with them. They also did an egg dying experiment that shows what a dinosaur egg would look like back then. They wanted to replicate what an egg would look like compared to the actual one.

My Credible Source

Website Evaluation Checklist

Student Name: Angela Torres Date of Evaluation: February 9, 2011

Name of the Website: WeatherWizKids

URL of the Website: http://www.weatherwizkids.com/

Accuracy of the Web Page	Yes	No	Notes
1. Can you find the author of the page? Hint: Scroll to the bottom of the page. It may be an institution.	X		Author Name: Crystal Wicker
2. Can the author be contacted: Hint: Look for an “About Us” or “Contact Link”	X		Author email: askcrystal@weatherwizkids.com
3. Do you think this person or institution is qualified to publish this webpage?	X		Why or why not? She has a degree. Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology
Authority of the Web Page
1. Check the domain of the URL, particularly the extension. Is this a commercial site? The URL can give clues to the authority.		X	What does the extension tell you? That Crystal is the main authority on this website.
2. Are there credentials listed for the author(s)? If not, try Googling the name of the author or the institution.		X	What did you find? I tried googling it but it nothing came up.
Purpose of the Web Page
1. Read over the information on this website carefully. Can you determine the purpose of this web page?	X		Why is this web page on-line? Think critically about possible opinions or bias? To allow kids to learn the world of weather and have parents get the right tools to teach them.
Currency of the Web Page
1. Can you find a publishing date?	X		When was it published? 2003
2. Can you find the date it was last updated?	X		When was it updated? 2009
3. Are the links working and current? Click on some of the links to check.	X		What do you think about the links? I think the links are great. They have great insight and work every time you click on them.
Looking at your answers, do you think this website would be a reliable, credible source of information?	X		Why or Why not? Crystal has a degree. She knows what she is talking about and has many links to discuss about weather. I could use much information off her website to create my lessons.

Oh to be DELICIOUS

This week in my EDU271 class, we had to create a Delicious account from www.delicious.com. At first I was saying to myself, "oh joy another account to remember the password, and probably would only use for this class", well I was wrong. It's a great way to set up your bookmarks with tags and an easy way to bookmark the page your on. Having your bookmarks organized can easily help you find your way back to it. You can even find people on there that bookmark sites that you have never been on, opening up new links and websites for you to enjoy. I still haven't quite found out how to find my classmate on it and their website that they have found. I am still a little lost but I think the more I use it, it will fall into place. It was easy to tag and add a web address to my bookmark. I also used the help content on delicious as well. This could be used for projects later in my classrooms at FTCC. My groups can click on my links and understand anything I have added to an assignment based on the web provided. It can help me keep up the pace of my group with adding links/web addresses to help with the project as well.

My Retrospective analysis of a goal-oriented activity

For the past two weeks in my EDU 271 class, we had a group collaboration assignment. My group was introducing "Twitter" and how it is used in the classroom with advantages and disadvantages. At first I was overwhelmed because the assignment called for a WIKI which I personally have never worked on before. I'm good at understanding once it has been introduced to me. After coming upon the WIKI page I started to play with it and see how everything works. I had four people in my group and only worked with one other person. No one else tried to get in contact with me, so I decided to start on it first. I was the first to post, but then later realized that MLA format was missing in my pieces. MLA format was difficult for me. I remember using it in one of my English classes before, but never kept it fresh in mind. If I could take a few things back, it would be to understand how to get the group discussion rolling a little better. I would sit back and take a breather and understand "it's a learning process" to understand new technology. I did keep in contact with one person and she was amazing. She took over the whole MLA format and fixing what we needed. I added information to the WIKI as well as a youtube video. I thought the video was a great addition. Learning how to put a video in was tough but if you actually look it up in google, or even youtube, you put two and two together and understand. Now that I think of it I probably could of used that for the discussion on the WIKI. =) Overall we got the project done. I seen one other person add a few things in there at a certain point. I went back into the WIKI almost daily to see what others have posted and also looked on other classmates WIKI to see what they have done. After reading some blogs, we all had the same issues, MLA, non communication in some groups, and taking on the project solo until others joined. I think for next time I will collaborate with my group more as well as learning MLA format so I don't have to rely on classmates too. I would feel more confident knowing I did my part in every which way possible.

Planning and Identifying Topics

In order for a teacher to meet all the needs of each and every student, each teacher should know they have a wide variety of diverse learners. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 ensures all rights of students with or with disabilities, receive the same education as those without.
Big Ideas- can help understand strength and weaknesses in the beginning of the school year i.e lessons of what a student should learn throughout.
Conspicuous Strategies- explained information of a tasks or assignment should be taught to students can use them independently.
Mediated Scaffolding- kids have to memorize certain math steps/ spelling words and some more than others need extra help. It's support to help the individual learn the word seeing it, hearing it and eventually knowing on their own without support.
Strategic Integration- Student will learn how things change and must understand the concept of change. Here is where teachers can take them on field trips in order to understand a much more in depth concept of something.
Primed Background Knowledge-this is where a teacher would ask the student what they know of a certain subject, asking of past experiences, connecting old information to new information working towards a class discussion or a report.
Judicious Review- A student will learn to make use of long term memory throughout the course of the year. For example something taught in the beginning of the school year, using is spontaneously throughout the year, ending it with some type of project showing what the child has learned in skills on that matter. Becoming more strategic in teaching, instructors can improve a child's' understanding and content being spoken of.

FINDING LESSON TOPICS:
When finding a lesson topic, a teacher should have knowledge of what the standard based curriculum of the school or district is. The students interest and questions can help shape the topic of the lesson. For example weather is a pretty broad topic. Narrowing it down to seasons and then distributing information of all types of the seasons. Another one would be with planting. Having the experience of learning to plant, how farming changed lives, and base it around the standard of the school and district. Having more information implied through textbooks, videos, guest speakers, websites, and hands on projects can help enhance learning experience and make it more vivid to understand.

Instruction and Assesments to Learning

ADAPTING INSTRUCTION:

Understand the learning process can lead to meeting the needs of their students through instructional adaptation. Through accommodations and modifications, will allow each student equal access to the curriculum and allow them to process information that has been taught. Accommodations: student support related to their disability, could consists of a way that helps the student learn to their greatest ability.
Modifications: student support related to their disability, shortening tasks given, making changes for them as well.

ASSESSMENT AND THE MEASURES:
Assessments usually compare a student's performance with one of three different types of standards.
Individual-referenced: a previous test on a student can be compared to a current test based on performance, monitor progress, and helps teacher understand child's strength and weaknesses.
Norm-referenced : standardized test comparing students performance to a group: compare school performance to national norms.
Criterion-referenced: compare students performance to an objective, assessing if the student has mastered skills within a curriculum, a true false test or even a book report shows direct and indirect ways for a reference.
A good assessment must measure the skills, knowledge, or abilities the teacher holds important, se several ways to determine progress, and be "teacher-friendly".

THE INSTRUCTIONAL CYCLE: There are 3 stages
Stage 1: Intended Instructional Outcomes: Teacher should have a clear idea of what they benchmark and content standard will address at the end of unit less or plan. Instructors should have an idea of what students need to know and understand to meet the standard based curriculum. Keeping in mind how they will asses what has been learned as well.
Stage 2: Planning
Teachers should start planning instructional activities and teaching strategies with making test and assessments. When they learn the outcome, instruction, and assessments the teachers should then carry out planning.
Stage 3: Assessment
This final stage which includes implementing the assessment into the lesson, doesn't mean it should be done at the end of the unit or topic. It should be throughout the entire lesson, so that the teacher could see what has or hasn't been learned by that particular student. Assessments are used to see if the student has mastered the intended learning.

Benchmark & Content Standard

Content Standards
Content standards refer to what gets taught in specific content areas (e.g., reading, language arts, mathematics, science, history) Content and performance are two types of standards. Performance is mastering what has been taught and the content which is an outline of what needs to be learned. These goals should be written based on grade level and what should be learned by the end of the year. Some assessments would be used to determine the knowledge and skills students have grasped and be able to guide teachers in a way to understand if their teaching skills have made an impact.
BENCHMARKS
Benchmarks are test usually given throughout the school year or the end of a semester/unit. They are used to determine progression in students based towards goals and standards. The teacher will acknowledge students about benchmarks and help them understand what is to be met of them giving them a greater sense of responsibility to their own learning.
Benchmark and standard remain the same throughout the k-12 grades but as the student goes to another grade, the performance standards change.
LEARNING
Knowing what makes a student struggle to learn and how they remember to learn can make lessons and planning easier for the instructor in her classroom. Learning a students interest, strengths, weaknesses, behavior, what language is spoken at home, interest, talents, religious factors, how they learn, and the knowledge they already have are good information to have before hand. All students don't learn the same or have the same environment around them. Getting to know your students can help the instructor understand each and every student and create ways to help them learn. All the information goes into a student goes to "short term memory" which leads to "long term memory". This isn't easy and cannot be done overnight. This is important for the teacher to incorporate that all student don't learn alike. One student might need visual aids to remember and another might remember by using "alike" words. Teachers can use creative ways to connect to their lessons i.e topics of interest outside the classrooms to help the students remember.

Blogs

I think Blogs are an excellent way of upgrading a classroom. Students use computers daily, Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter. There are ways to set up blogs and comment people interests and statuses daily. Blogs are pretty much the exact same thing. Blogs bring a different touch when it comes to teaching. Instead of the boring usual discussion board, blogs can bring an exciting incentive to learning. Sometimes people think that blogs are for personal use but this class has showed me how blogs can help us stay connected as a classroom. Usually emails are the way people stay connected with online classes but I see now how blogs can replace and make things a little easier yet fun at the same time.

Group Collaboration and Problem Solving

The first thing that I noticed when starting our assignment is the fact that no one replied to the page and nearly 9 days away, that shows no hope for our project. I don't like the fact you have to wait on others to speak or say "ok what do we need to do". Seems like someone has to always initiate the getting to know each other and keep them motivated to get something started. Pushing them to get this done might be a battle. The only thing I'd say that I like about group projects and collaborating would be meeting others, coming together and seeing what a group has accomplished. Learning to work together, communication, and dedication are critical factors in group collaboration. This week I have learned that sometimes you have to be that initiator in starting the conversation on what is to be done, when, and who is going to do what. I feel that this week is the most trying week because we haven't gotten too far and I would like to see people ask questions if they don't understand the assignment. Take the stick and ask for emails or phone numbers might be key in a situation like this. This week I plan to learn more about this class as well as our project, what is expected of us and how we can all do this together.

My Philosophy

As a future teacher, a mentor, and a current student, I believe it's my duty to understand, support, and guide my future students, learning their weak and strong points. I see my primary role as a friend, a teacher, and a supporter. I believe that you have to have your kids open up to you and feel free to express themselves. My job as a teacher is to help them understand that learning is fun I want them to feel comfortable in my classroom and feel like they belong. I don't wish upon any student to feel uncomfortable. My role as a teacher will help them achieve anything possible in their dreams, teach them along the way, and understand better how my teaching skills can improve through my own mentors.

Students are naturally curious and want to know more about the world around us. I want to have a relationship with my student so they are comfortable to succeed. I would create a treasure box that will help initiate and reward good behavior. Any curriculum a teacher should used should always be based on what age group they are pertaining to.

I will arrange my groups to participate in full group activities, to small group activities, helping to get to know one another as well. I feel that group engagement is crucial to a child’s view of learning.

Technology will play a very important role in my classroom. It will help the children prepare for learning about computers and media. It will also improve my assignments, help me with my own lesson planning, to accessing word of advice from my peers to improve myself. Technology is now and will forever be a growing field of technology. The more the students engage now, the more they will be willing in the future.

How People Learn

The student’s interest, background knowledge, along with their social and cultural value plays an important factor in a learning center learning environment. The more visible the child’s thinking, the more opportunity for a teacher to understand the child’s thinking and correct if needed. For instance if I wanted to create an activity designed around a learner-centered activity I would choose something hands on. Learning to plant would be a lesson of my choice. It teaches them the concepts of the growth and development. I would ask questions and have them discuss in groups, learning what they already knew verses new ideas and information they received from this activity. This allows the students to have more control over their academic experiences, assessing, then improving. The Formative assessment and the Summative assessment are two types assessments of measure. Formative assessments determine how much students have learned and how much they still have to learn. Formative assessments can be informal assignments, such as question-and-answer sessions or homework. Summative assessments encompass all the knowledge students should have learned about that subject or unit, and they are more formal, such as tests, quizzes, essays or projects. A community is regarded as a group of people who share common goals and traditions, who realize their interdependence, and who strive to care for one another. This makes all the more importance to student learning. CCL the dimensions that structure the organization and operation of the classroom community are roles, rules, and rewards. It helps each and ever student to” develop competence and confidence.” I haven’t personally used anything in the past as far as a community-centered activity. But I know in the future I will use it because it can feel likes it’s brought out of the classroom to something these children all enjoyed equally, sharing, learning and being comfortable with them selves. Teachers and future teachers can evaluate their own instruction within the IRIS CENTER, you can improve many skills, learn about diversity, and use technology in the classroom. These interactive training materials should result in better-prepared school personnel so that special education becomes a service for children rather than a place where they are sent for their education. You can see your students become self-evaluative through the assessments, allowing them to grow physically, academically, and socially helping them understand their strengths and weaknesses.

goals

MY GOALS

My goals for this course is to completely feel confident in myself through technology, teaching, and peers. I'm a strong user for technology but I know there are few things out there that I really have never used before. I never used WIKI's before nor have I been a blogger. I know of myspace and facebook and do well with that. Once I get my hands on something and is shown how it works, I'm pretty good with it. Iwould like to learn how to edit a bit more in power point slides, I would like to learn more about using a video camera as well. I know how to use it but editing, creating my own captions, adding music and pictures and posting for many to see. There are things I'm quick at but yet haven't tried to do. I know I haven't done much with podcasts either. So I think there is a lot to learn in this class and embrace in my future career in education. Technology makes us stronger and I want to imply that in my life.