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TECHNOLOGY used for ASSESSMENT
Before class, I knew a minimal amount about this topic of tech tools used to assess student learning. I had seen Kahoot! used in class, and I have used Moodle throughout my education so I would refer to those two sites as a form of assessment that is used in today's classrooms. But what I didn't know was that there are so many more sites that teachers can use! So, while preparing for this class I played with Go Soap Box, Go Formative, and Screenchomp. These sites were all great for formative, and summative assessment through technology. But they are also very different from one another so I would recommend playing with them before using them in the classroom. Additional Resources: Top Tech Tools for Assessment List of Assessment tools In class I learned that using online assessment tools really helps the teacher stay organized. This is better compared to having papers, projects, and other junk piling up on your desk. This is key for teachers who want to finish grading in a timely fashion and to really study their students' progress throughout the year. This changed my understanding of assessment because I always though of it as grading written tests and quizzes. But in actuality, this is a new age where technology can replace a lot of tedious acts such as single-handly grading tests.
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DEVICES IN THE CLASSROOM
Before this class time, my knowledge of devices used in the classroom was actually quite extensive. In middle school we used the COW or the Computers On Wheels. This was a cart that held about 30 Chromebook laptops and charged them. We also had experience with Desktop computers, which are less common in large schools today. I had very little experience with the iPad before high school though. Through my prep for class I learned:
For the Love of Laptops (article on website) Laptops vs. iPads (review website) In class I found that iPads offer many fun and educational apps that can really aid learning. But there are also so many downfalls to using iPads in schools that many schools are returning their tablets in turn for laptops. I think as I researched the benefits and downfalls of these devices, that my understanding has grown immensely. I also believe that if I had a choice in the matter, I would choose Chromebook Laptops for my classroom, not iPads. Smart Boards are awesome! Before class I watched and informational video on the them and learned some fun, new tricks. Like how to cover items up with a white box so students can focus more on one object.
I learned in class that Smart Boards can be used in so many different ways! I learned about how to use them to teach more interactive lessons. Such as using a virtual dice on the screen so students can roll it and learn about probabilities or about statistical math lessons. After learning all of this, my understanding of Smart Notebook and the Board is much larger and fuller, so I am very excited to use my new skills to teach in the classroom! Additional Resources: YouTube video on the Smart Board Teacher's Love Smart Boards Site SOCIAL MEDIA & COLLABORATION TOOLS
1. Before this class time I had a pretty wide knowledge of Social Media sites and different Collaboration tools that could be used for teaching. I have accounts on multiple social media sites such as: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, SnapChat, and Skype. Some Collaboration tools I am a part of are: Skype, Moodle, Schoology, and even Google Drive. The collaboration websites all enable me to connect with my fellow classmates and to get work done outside of class. Through my preparation for class I learned that some teachers today are finding ways to use Social Media sites in their own classrooms. I think this is very interesting since these websites were not created for this purpose but are being used anyways. Additional Resources: Social Media and the Classroom [YouTube Video] Pros and Cons of Social Media in the Classroom [website] In class this week I learned that I don't think it is very appropriate in many situations to use social media sites in the classroom for teaching the elementary level students. I think it can be used in the high school level because these students are old enough to know how to respect one another on the sites and how to use them to their full potential. My understanding on this topic changed because I found through personal experience that social media gives you a fake sense of being 'social'. This means that if a teacher is using a social site to make his students more talkative with one another, he is going about it all wrong. He should be encouraging real social interactions and in class collaboration, not just online text-reading-typing conversations where there is a lack of emotion and understanding. |
AuthorWith this blog I will be writing a weekly account about my adventures in my technology class! Archives
April 2015
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