summer

Professional Development with regards to technology would depend on the district I am working for and what they offer technology wise. The district I work in now has a wonderful technology department and just passed a huge bond for more technolgy; not all districts are this lucky. My goal is to keep up on recent technology trends and the best educational resources for the subjects I will be teaching. I will take advantage of what is offered in the district and what is offered at the local ISD. If journals are not available at school then I will take the time to look them up online. I will keep in contact with the medial specialist in the building I am working at, look to her/him for suggestions and advice. There are always classes at the community college. Organizations are MACUL and MAME are I can look to for many resources. Other school districts are usually really good about helping fellow educators.

1. Authority - I didn’t see an author or anyone that takes credit for the website.

2. Affiliation - some links to the site have some great information and the domain is .edu

3. Content - I think there is some great information, but the content is definitly high school and beyond. I am not able to access the site from where I work (it has been blocked). So I am sure someone has objected to it.

4. Audience/Currency - It did seem the majority was up to date, but the only date I found on the site was when some quotes a bit of a magazine from 1998. I help students do research and I find it frustating when there is no date on the site.

5. Design - The site loaded fast (I use dial-up). The graphics are good and it was very easy to navigate. I liked the fact that it presented both sides of MLK, Jr. One link said it was under construction.

I agree with many of the ways of Constructivism and believe it helps the students with thinking on their own, creating their points of view.

Constructivism makes the students research and think about their own points of views. It works on prior knowledge of the students. The seventh and eighth grade classes they use this almost weekly, they appoarch the student with a question and make them give their point of view, it usually has to do with real world issues, meaning hunting, dams, cloning and etc. . . It is called “Critical Issues” and they must write a paper on their own thoughts and feelings with supporting statements. The students need to know we can change things with a small voice even if it is just a few of us at a time.

The students are left on their own to come up with what they think/feel on their own. Some of the more advanced students create a more lengthly paper and some of the lesser advanced students only come up with a few short papagraphs. I don’t remember doing anything like this when I was in school. A lot of this has to do with prior knowledge of the student.

I have always liked this project because it makes the students think for themselves. All students need to realize that within themselves they have an opinion, weather it be right or wrong with the world; it is their own feelings and they need to find something to support it. I think it is a good way to get them ready for college.

The students can create a way of the solving a problem and coming up with a complex answer to the question asked of them. I believe a lot of this has to do the the MEAP, but that is OK, because it is making them think outside the box is good. The younger we make the students believe they can use their own thoughts and maybe come up with a solution, the better we all can be. We as educators need to emphasize the students thinking capabilities and make them think on their own; without that we are a nation that just puts information in their brains and doesn’t explain and doesn’t let them know their opinion is important. We need to teach everyone that they have thoughts and opinions and they can take action on them.

One of the main problems with this is some students have very little prior knowledge on some subjects; so how can we educate them and not be bias?

We all need open their minds and not so give own opinions!

I have enjoyed this class so far. I feel a little more confident with a few of the programs we have had for labs. I like the fact that there is a deadline for each week, but flexibilty is good too. I like the fact that the instructor gets back to me quickly with any questions or concerns. Another good thing is we are not overwelmed with a lot of work. It is just enough. I don’t know what I would change, if it is not broke, don’t fix it.

I have this online class and another class online a few years ago, they have both worked well for me. I had one online class that I couldn’t wait for it to end. The instructor logged on maybe once a week.

I do wish GVSU offered more online classes, MCC offers many different classes online.

1. Word
2. Power Point
3. Excel
4. Inspiration
5. Imaging Software

The most important is knowing some sort of word processing. Today’s world is requiring it and it is not going away. Power point is another important tool to know, from school to the working world. The student can create a simple report (presentation) and in the working world, they need to make more complex reports. Excel is a widely used softeware, if anyone has looked in the want ads, they would notice many places want/require the knowledge of excel. Inspiration is a learning tool taught in school and can have many uses. Imaging Software is great to know, but may not be required for the business world. It is a great asset to have when editing pictures.

Did anyone have a problem with excel?

I think it helps to just have time to play around with the program.

Patti

There are very many way to help students. I believe the biggest way is to get them involved in helping others. I think this will help all of the emotions they are feeling: anger, fear, sadness and others. This could mean raising money by having a car wash, community yard sale, making different things to sell (quilts, blankets, and other homemade objects). People need personal items such as soap, shampoo, female products, razors, food products have have a long shelf life. They could also donate to the local animal shelters with money or cat litter, dog food, beds, cat food, newspaper, or other needed items. Teachers and other adults need to be accessable for students to express their thoughts and feelings. Maybe they just need to sit down and write a note to someone to tell them how sorry they are about what happened. Helping out at any shelter around the area would still be meaningful to everyone.

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