Blogfolio

Hello! My name is Madeline Saucier and I am 19 years old (but about to turn 20 WAHOO!) I was born in New Orleans but moved when I was five to Mandeville.  I graduated from St. Scholastica Academy in 2012.  I am a junior now and an elementary education major.  I have three little brothers, William (17), Patrick (14), and Henry (7).  I work at a summer camp over the summer every year and I absolutely love it.  This past summer was my 11th year at camp and it was my favorite year by far.  Besides camp, I love the beach, babies, food, and hanging out with my friends and family. 

Introduction Video

I liked this project because it helped us get accustomed to what kind of things we would be doing this semester.  It was a fun type of icebreaker to do with the other students in the class.  I did not know my partner, but having fun and making fun of ourselves together helped us get to know each other.  The only main problem I had was actually talking to the camera.  I felt awkward and kept messing up, but eventually I got it.  From this project we learned how, first to make videos on our phones and upload them to our blogs.  This can be helpful in the future because we can learn how to make videos that are related to our class and upload them to our class blogs or websites.  By using videos that parents and students can play at home, they are able to review what went on in class that day.  I think this could be a great tool for the classrooms.  To integrate this into my classroom, I will have the students make an introduction video with a group or by themselves depending on their ages.  Another thing I could do is make videos of the lessons taught each day and post them on the class website so that parents are able to familiarize themselves with what their children are learning and also so that students are able to review.

NETS-T Standards: 

Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity: Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:

a. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness. 

b. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.

This standard goes with this project because teachers are teaching students new ways for students apply what they have learn as well as review what had been taught that day.

Concept Map

     I have done concept maps on Inspiration in high school, but I never realized major uses for them until this class.  I really like how with concept maps you are able to organize with topics, subtopics, and notes about each.  Being a visual learner, I like being able to see things organized and planned out like this.  I think using these will help students and even parents identify and organize the lesson themselves.  My only problem with this project was the actual software program.  It was difficult to only be able to work on this project in class and not on my own time at home.  I think that a good activity for students would be to have them create their own concept map based on what was taught in class so that they are sure that they understand the information and organize their own thoughts as well as what was taught.  I could also assign a project with a given topic, similar to what we did in our class.

NETS-T standards:

Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments: Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:

a. design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity

b. develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress

 c. customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources

d. provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching

This standard goes with this project because teachers are designing different, technological ways that students can learn what is being taught in the classroom.

Google Sites Website

     The Google Sites Website project was my favorite project that we have done so far in this class.  I think this one out of all of them is one that I will apply the most to my future as a teacher.  Although with this website, I can implement many of the other assignments done in this class.  With a class website, you are able to display any information talked about in class, events and important dates in the school or classroom, the lunch schedule, a biography about yourself, and other resources to help students practice what they were taught in class.  I did not really have any major problems with this website; my most serious one was figuring out how to work the formatting and design of the website.  I will definitely be using this into my future classrooms to help relay information to students and parents.

NETS-T Standards

Model Digital-Age Work and Learning: Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers:

a. demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations

b. collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation

c. communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats

d. model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning

This standard goes along with this project because teachers are taking what they know and are teaching and are transferring it digitally so that students and parents are able to view what is happening in the classroom from home.

Windows Movie Maker

With the Windows Movie Maker project, we were able to make a video and present to class something in our lives.  I chose a camp that I attend every summer.  I really liked this project because with this, we learned a little bit more about our classmates – some even made me cry!  I also really liked this project because it was a lot of fun to make.  There were not any problems I encountered while I was doing this project.  I think that in future classrooms, making a video based on the lesson being taught would be more effective than lecturing with PowerPoints.  A video like this can be much more appealing to students because you can include videos and music.  When students hear that they will be watching a movie, they automatically become more interested.  Another way I could integrate this into the classroom is by having the students make a video of their own.  Depending on the age level, I could assign them a specific topic, or something that interests them or it could simply be a biography. 

NETS-T standards

Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessment: Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:

a. design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity

b. develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress

c. customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources

d. provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching

This standard goes along with this project because teachers are learning different ways to teach students using technology.

TurnItIn Assignment

     For the TurnItIn Assignment we first strictly copied and pasted an article to the website to prove that it was plagiarized.  We then wrote about it in our own words wrote about the article in our own words after reading it.  An assignment like this is important because it stresses to us as future teachers what plagiarism is and why it is problematic.  Teachers need to be aware of these things because they are teaching children who will be encountering this in the future.  If students are not aware of the issue of plagiarism, they will find difficulty writing papers in the future.  I think that by giving students an activity like this where they must submit something (even something small) to TurnItIn, they will understand and comprehend the concept of plagiarism.  A good idea for children to begin learning about plagiarism at young ages is to have them simply write where they found something online. 

NETS-T standards

Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility: Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. Teachers:

a. advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources

b. address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies and providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources

c. promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information

d. develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital-age communication and collaboration tools

This standard goes with this project because students, and teachers, are learning the importance of developing one's own opinion, comprehending, and then stating it in their own words. 

Webtools Assignment

This was another assignment I liked doing.  To be honest, I had no idea where my teachers that I had growing up used to get rubrics and quizzes to look the way that they did.  Learning how to use TrackStar, Rubric website, and quiz website probably just saved me a lot of valuable time in the future.  The quiz website was cool because you can print the quiz out for the students or you can have them print it online, that way, you are integrating technology too!  I had some problems coming up with an idea for a quiz, but I think that in the future it will be a lot easier because I will already have a topic.  The rubric website is cool because the rubric is either made out for you, or you insert your own comments; you just have to select the topic.  The TrackStar was interesting because it is a good way to keep up with educational websites.   I know for a fact these three websites will be put to good use when I become a teacher.  Knowing that I can find these things online eases my mind a little bit.  I think that by learning little things like these in my classes will benefit me the most as a teacher. 

NETS-T standards

Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments: Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:

a. design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity

b. develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress

c. customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources

d. provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching

I think that this standard goes along with this project because with think assignment teachers are learning how to design and develop assessments for students by using technology.

Google Group Assignment

I loved this assignment because we were finally able to work consistently with a group!  Normally group projects are not my favorite thing in world, but it was easy to break up the work between the three of us in the group.  Google Docs makes group projects easy because each of the members is able to edit the project on their own time and not have to wait around on other group members.  We did not really have any issues with the projects because everything saves and everyone is able to see the changes you may have made to a paper right when you do from their own computer.  I think that this might be a little far-fetched for young elementary school aged students, but I know it will come in handy anyway.  This is a great tool for the rest of my years in college as well as my future endeavors for when I have to work together with other teachers on projects between classrooms or with the school.

NETS-T standard

Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility: Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. Teachers:

a. advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources

b. address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies and providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources

c. promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information

d. develop and model cultural understanding and global awareness by engaging with colleagues and students of other cultures using digital-age communication and collaboration tools

I think that this standard goes along with this project because students are learning to work with groups of people on an assignment. This can teach them responsibility and good citizenship because they are learning to work with other people who's grades also rely on this project.

Course Reflection

This class has been one of my favorite classes this semester.  I feel like it has mentally prepared a little bit for what to expect in my intro-block next semester as well as my years as a teacher in the future.  At first I was a little nervous because many of the people in the class were currently in their intro block classes, so I thought I would not have a clue as to what was going on, but I ended up picking up on most things fairly simply.  Dr. Beedle did a good job at explaining things to the class as well as guiding us to integrate technology into our future classrooms.  I think what I liked most about this class was being challenged and having to think on our own about problems and disadvantages with technology in the education system.  Also, before this class, I wasn’t the most technological person in the world.  I have a laptop and know how to use it, but I never in a million year thought I would know how to put together a blog, video, website, or many of the various other things that we did in this class.  I am glad I was given the opportunity to learn about all of these things because I know that they will be beneficial to my future as a teacher.  Some of my goals for the future are to focus on technology more in my everyday life, and find little ways to incorporate it into my schooling and studying more.  One thing that really, surprisingly, influenced me a lot in this class was the Skype calls with some of the Teachers of the Year from years past.  I could tell how passionate they were about teaching and how much they truly appreciated and loved their job.  It made me so happy, to say the least, about my chosen major.

I also will definitely be using many of the tools and websites that we learned about throughout this class time to assist students and parents at home to understand what goes on in class.  The class website, Rubricon, quiz website, video making and Google Docs were a few of my favorites that I will definitely use.  I think that the use of Blogs in education is beneficial because students are able to write about what they have read right there rather than keeping up with multiple word documents or sheets of paper.  Because of this class, I am constantly thinking of little ways that I can integrate technology into my future classrooms.  When I was in elementary school, we had computer class once a week, but now that technology has become more prevalent in our society, I think that students do need more time with technology in a school setting.  One of the things I would like to do in order to integrate technology into my classroom is to allow students allotted time to play educational games on classroom computers.  Like the teacher we interviewed, iPads would be nice, but I am willing to settle for desktop computers.  I have learned and come to accept that children have more technology in their lives than we did at such a young age, so it is important that we teach them the positive ways to use it.  However, I also still believe that it is important students do not get too caught up in technology, so as teachers, we will have to find a good balance between technology and face to face work.