This week I had first hand experience with frustrations with technology. In our society we often become attached or dependent to a piece of technology, be it a cell phone, laptop, iPhone, or Smart Board. When these devices crash or malfunction our whole routine is set off kilter. Well this week my laptop decided it wanted to die and decided to give me a "blue screen of death" right as I was completing the final paragraph in a six page paper due in class the next day. Naturally I freaked out and panicked because I have forgotten the number one rule- always back up documents. Luckily for me my husband's friend was able to retrieve my document by extracting my hard drive and routing it to his computer.
As a pre-service teacher I can only imagine how catastrophic this would have been if I had lesson plans, children's portfolio information, or curriculum standards on my laptop. I now recognize the importance of utilizing other technological devices and services to backup all of my files, such as an external hard drive or uploading documents to Google Documents.
Does anyone else have any frustrating technology stories or ideas for backing up documents?
Also, I'm not sure if I want to wipe my laptop and install Windows 7 or just buy a new laptop all together? Any ideas?
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
WebQuests and Preschoolers
When I first heard about webquests, I thought they sounded like a fun educational activity for older children but I was not so sure about using them with young preschool aged children. Through my TPTE 486 class at UT I have discovered that preschoolers are capable of more technological activities than I originally thought possible, but I was still skeptical about using something as complex as a webquest with two-year-olds. I could not imagine a young preschooler searching the web and typing in answers to questions.
Once I began researching preschool webquests I discovered that there are ways to adapt a webquest to make it developmentally appropriate for preschool children. One site I found, http://www.literacy.uconn.edu/pkwebqu.htm, listed links to four quality preschool webquests. One webquest I found on the site, "Take Time to Sing & Rhyme", listed activities such as select a nursery rhyme to print and color, read favorite nursery rhyme to your child/student, and practice labeling body parts while singing "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes." The evaluation section is a fill in the blank print off that lists three popular nursery rhymes. This webquest is designed for a parent or teacher to do along with the child and the activities are developmentally appropriate for preschoolers. Another interesting webquest is "On The Farm." This webquest has pictures of various farm animals for children to click on to hear the sound that animals makes as well as pictures of tractors and other farm equipment. The evaluation for this wequest is to print and color a farm picture. Older preschool students will be able to complete this webquest on their own and younger students can with minimal teacher assistance.
After reviewing these and other webquests, I believe that webquests can be a useful educational tool in a preschool classroom. Teachers can use webquests as a way to teach children about Internet usage and other computer functions. Preschool children can learn about new topics in a fun and interactive way. Webquests can be an excellent educational tool for all ages if designed with developmentally appropriate practices in mind.
Once I began researching preschool webquests I discovered that there are ways to adapt a webquest to make it developmentally appropriate for preschool children. One site I found, http://www.literacy.uconn.edu/pkwebqu.htm, listed links to four quality preschool webquests. One webquest I found on the site, "Take Time to Sing & Rhyme", listed activities such as select a nursery rhyme to print and color, read favorite nursery rhyme to your child/student, and practice labeling body parts while singing "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes." The evaluation section is a fill in the blank print off that lists three popular nursery rhymes. This webquest is designed for a parent or teacher to do along with the child and the activities are developmentally appropriate for preschoolers. Another interesting webquest is "On The Farm." This webquest has pictures of various farm animals for children to click on to hear the sound that animals makes as well as pictures of tractors and other farm equipment. The evaluation for this wequest is to print and color a farm picture. Older preschool students will be able to complete this webquest on their own and younger students can with minimal teacher assistance.
After reviewing these and other webquests, I believe that webquests can be a useful educational tool in a preschool classroom. Teachers can use webquests as a way to teach children about Internet usage and other computer functions. Preschool children can learn about new topics in a fun and interactive way. Webquests can be an excellent educational tool for all ages if designed with developmentally appropriate practices in mind.
Friday, February 12, 2010
"Cool School"
I know majority of us thought our high school was pretty lame when we were growing up- I sure did. The coolest thing my high school had was the new computer lab with the latest Dell desktops and this was in 2004! Recently Warren County High School was featured on a local news series called "Cool Schools." When I first heard about the feature I laughed. My old high school cool???? Never in a million years! But I decided to watch the special online and boy was I blown away with the changes the school has made.
The students now at Warren Co. can take a class where they design, construct, and test underwater ROV's, or remove operated vehicles. They also have a distance learning lab where students can take virtual field trips, learn more about career options, or take classes with others across the country! The school has also added a forensic science class where the students get to experiment with facial reconstruction technology and other forensic science tools.
For myself, being a preschool teacher and all, I loved seeing the interactive board in the Pioneer Preschool. That class is the reason I decided to major in Early Childhood Education and seeing the technological advances they have made in these past few years is amazing. I would have never imagined my preschoolers could talk to Mrs. Claus about the weather at the North Pole!
After watching the special I realized how rapidly technology is changing education today. I'm glad to know that my hometown high school is striving to bring some of the latest technology to its students, even the future students in the preschool lab! Too bad they had to go "cool" after I left!
http://www.wsmv.com/video/21816443/index.html
The students now at Warren Co. can take a class where they design, construct, and test underwater ROV's, or remove operated vehicles. They also have a distance learning lab where students can take virtual field trips, learn more about career options, or take classes with others across the country! The school has also added a forensic science class where the students get to experiment with facial reconstruction technology and other forensic science tools.
For myself, being a preschool teacher and all, I loved seeing the interactive board in the Pioneer Preschool. That class is the reason I decided to major in Early Childhood Education and seeing the technological advances they have made in these past few years is amazing. I would have never imagined my preschoolers could talk to Mrs. Claus about the weather at the North Pole!
After watching the special I realized how rapidly technology is changing education today. I'm glad to know that my hometown high school is striving to bring some of the latest technology to its students, even the future students in the preschool lab! Too bad they had to go "cool" after I left!
http://www.wsmv.com/video/21816443/index.html
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Integration of Technology Into the Preschool Classroom
My first thoughts about using technology with young preschool children is the risks involved with young children and expensive pieces of equipment. How many people would willingly hand their laptop or iPod to a two-year-old? Deborah Stewart (http://www.deborahjstewart.com/2010/01/books-and-technology-in-the-preschool-classroom/), mentions the same concerns about using technology in her preschool classroom in her blog. While I am nervous about using expensive equipment with young children, I do believe that it is vitally important for young children to learn how to properly use different pieces of equipment. The trick will be finding what types of technology is developmentally appropriate to use with the age group I will be working with and how to incorporate it into my lesson plans.
ECresources also has a blog post devoted to technology use with young children (http://early-childhood-resources.blogspot.com/search/label/SCITEC). In her blog, Carly mentions the use of Tag Reading systems, Wii games, and iPhone games designed for preschool children. These forms of technology all have components or games that have been adapted so young children can operate and enjoy the systems. While I believe giving a child a computer game is not a substitution for teacher instruction, it can be used as a lesson enhancement or a tool to use with special needs learners. From reading different blogs and my own person experience in the classroom, I believe that technology has a place in the classroom and can be beneficial to young children. As a teacher, I must evaluate potential technology gadgets to make sure that my students will be interested in the system and that they will be able to operate it with their current skill level. Now I look forward to experimenting with different types of technology with preschoolers. The BeeBots mentioned in Carly's blog sounds like they would be fun to use!
ECresources also has a blog post devoted to technology use with young children (http://early-childhood-resources.blogspot.com/search/label/SCITEC). In her blog, Carly mentions the use of Tag Reading systems, Wii games, and iPhone games designed for preschool children. These forms of technology all have components or games that have been adapted so young children can operate and enjoy the systems. While I believe giving a child a computer game is not a substitution for teacher instruction, it can be used as a lesson enhancement or a tool to use with special needs learners. From reading different blogs and my own person experience in the classroom, I believe that technology has a place in the classroom and can be beneficial to young children. As a teacher, I must evaluate potential technology gadgets to make sure that my students will be interested in the system and that they will be able to operate it with their current skill level. Now I look forward to experimenting with different types of technology with preschoolers. The BeeBots mentioned in Carly's blog sounds like they would be fun to use!
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