A little Tech can go a long way...it turns out

Here's another post for my "how to use technology in teaching " class

Prompt:How has your conception of technology changed since the beginning of the semester? (If it hasn't changed, explain what your view is and why it hasn't changed)

Actually my view on this has changed quite a bit.

Old view: Technology is unrealiable and never works. It's confusing and hard to use, and maybe could be cool, but it's coolness in the classroom is not worth the effort and chance of failure.

New/Curent View: You don't have to be a computer specialists to do cool things with tecyhnology. In fact most programs like blogging, making imovies, creating a wiki page, etc are set up by computer programers to be incredibly user friendly. Also I think there are a lot of ways that tecnology can enhance learning. It gives acces to unique tools, and has the ability to make a lesson more engagning. Plus Technology contines to be a bigger and greater part of society. Not only would I benefit from learning a few basic things, but being able to work with technology is something I should be teaching my students as well. So I still think technologicy is a little confusing and it takes me a long time to figure out usually;hoever, I suppose using it is not impossible and it actually has a great deal of value. The pain I thought technology was has significanlty decreased and it's value as gone up in my mind. I feel that to be the best teacher I can be I will need to incorporate technology into my classroom.

sup April

K so the beginning of April is approaching RAPIDLY!! which means... Kale has been out for a YEAR! REally...??? When did a whole year go by? Have I even done anything slightly cool or productive since he left? I'm not sure, but at the same time it's been ages since I had a good chat with the kid. time is fickle and strange, but solid and unchanging at the same time. anyways heres a little clip from his email today. He is wise boy. and HE certainly has done much cool and productive work in the last year.:)

Yesturday we had a thunder storm and i sat outside with Elder Neves and we talked and watch the lighting. God really controls everything, and we are so small. but by small and simple things are great thigs come to pass. The Gosple is true


CTR
Elder O Cara (the Man)

iPT

I love how this wiki has a direct link to the schools homepage. there is a lot of valuable information collected on this site that is helpful for both parents and teachers. Yea it's high school so it is good for it to be "older" looking, but i think there is room for it to be jazzed up and look at little cooler. But check it out...http://westwood.wikispaces.com/

I got in

I got accepted to the Washignton DC program. I am majoring in History teaching and after april all i'll have left to do is my student teaching. I applied to do this program through BYU that takes you to Washington DC to student teach where you get to do it in an inner city school. I applied with all the hope and ideals and passion a new and ignorant teacher could have. I love teaching, I really do and my passion lies in inner city work, but suddenly the thought of leaving provo has become a sad one. Cool stuff happened here. I made good friends, did fun stuff, learned TONS, grew in neat ways. Meaningful stuff happened here and it's sad to leave it:(. Plus I know where the grocery store is here and I have friends here. The excitement of DC has left and it just looks like a gigantic mean city that is going to suck me up, overwhlem me and leave me feeling useless. I got acdepted last tuesday, but I havn't told anyone. Maybe if i don't say it out loud it won't be true and I can stay in my provo Kingdom where I know the peeps and I know the ropes. Maybe i can postpone being a grown up...maybe. BUT... in the end few things make me as happy as teaching does, and I was smitten with DC when I went a couple months ago. plus it's my dream to teach in an inner city. I know DC is where i'm suppose to go and I know i'll have great time. I just didn't know I had grown so attatched to ole Brighman Young. so here is me being brave and saying it out loud. I got into the DC Program. In September I am going to Washington DC where I will teach inner city teenagers about the civil war and the constitution and hopfully about integrity and service too. I am going to Washington DC.

Ip&T

Prompt: tell about why one of the things we talked about in class would be cool to use in your classroom

K one thing we talked about was googlemaps. Googlemaps is a super cool feature. You have access to any map and you can click to zoom in and stuff. They also have this satalite thing that lets you see the streets and stuff. This would be incredible in the classroom. especially for teaching history, like I will do. Maps are used in History for every unit. Dosn't matter what you're studying it happened somewhere. There is a locationand seeing where it is brings it to life, and makes it more real. Plus I think that people should know that things are different in other parts of the country or of the world. You should realize a world outside of yours exists,and maps are a great tool is helping studetns to realize that. Plus I think reading a map is good skill people should have. Googlemaps can help you out with that!