Chapter 2

SHORT ANSWER
1. Describe the relative advantage of using graphic tools to help students learn new concepts.
The advantage of using graphic tools to help students learn new concepts is the idea that it gives the students visual examples to clarify certain concepts and/or applications. This allows for students to see images and illustartions which may help them understand things more easier.

2. In Phase 2 of the Technology Integration Planning Model (TIP), teachers focus on the outcomes expected as a result of integrating technology into instruction. List four methods teachers can use to assess the outcomes of the plan.
Through phase 2 of the Technology Integration Planning Model (TIP), teachers are able to use four methods to assess the outcomes of the plan. First, higher achievemnet outcome, is where teachers will assess achievement through a test. Secondly, cooperative work outcome, which you will use an existing rubric to grade different skills. Third, attitude outcome, which you will create an attitude survey to access satisfaction. Lastly, improved motivation, where teachers will create and use an observation sheet.

3. Describe two advantages of required school and district policies such as policies regarding Internet use, legal and ethical use, and equity.
These advantages of required school and district policies regarding to legal and equity use policies help students out. The legal use aspect places a firewall software that detects bad viruses and websites. Firewall suspends ceratin sites from being acessed if the software believes it to be harmful. With the equity policies schools are responsible for allowing everyone access of the technology especialls those who may not get the attention needed.

MAKING THE CASE FOR TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION
1. Sheingold (1991) said that teachers will have to confront squarely the difficult problem of creating a school environment that is fundamentally different from the one they themselves experienced (p. 23). In what ways is the current K-12 environment different from the one you experienced? Do you feel this presents an obstacle to effective use of technology in your teaching? What are some strategies you feel might help teachers overcome this obstacle?
The current K-12 environment differs from the one we experienced mainly due to the idea behind technology. There is now a Technology Integration Planning (TIP) Model that allows teachers a way to approach challenges within a classroom. The model goes through five phases that outline a set of planning steps that help more people become more familiar with technology and become more efficient and successful.
Phase one's main focuses on the main idea of why you should use a technology based method instead. When someone can see the benefits then they are more likely to take part in the new model. The second phase, lets you know that the students are learning. Teachers will skill their students on different aspects and assess them in how well they have learned. In the third phase, teachers decide on strategies and how they should be implemented. In the fourth phase, the teacher's set up an environment in which the students can effectively learn. And in the last phase, phase five, the teachers will evaluate how well the integration strategies worked. They will revise if needed also.
Now, the K-12 environment has enough computers and has numerous copies of resources, They have enough time needed and the teaches have time scheduled for working on computers, students with disabilities are still able to access everything, and the teachers are familiar with all the hardware. When we were in K-12 there was not always enough computers for everyone. Students had to share computers in order to follow the teachers lessons. Teachers did not sign out time to work on the computers if their was a project due which made it difficult for those who did not have computers at home. Also, not all the teachers are familiar with the hardware and software, sometimes students would have to show the teachers what to do.
We believe it could present obstacles to effective use of technology in teaching if you are unfamiliar with the hardware and software your school district has. You might have to stop lessons in order to figure out your computer. Also, teachers should know the environment they will be teaching in. In order to prevent some of these obstacles one could take a computer class to learn the ins and outs of their computer hardware and software that they will be using. Also, the teachers can take a tour of the schools in advance to figure out what resources they have available and ask questions regarding scheduling time to use the computer labs etc.

2. NCATE's document Technology and the New Professional Teacher (1997) said that, in addition to technology skills, teachers need an attitude that is fearless in the use of technology, encourages them to take risks, and inspires them to be lifelong learners. What current factors and activities can help teachers develop such an attitude? What factors make it difficult for them to acquire it?
As technology is rapidly growing in society, especially throughout schools, teachers need to have an attitude that is open-minded and willing to learn new things. They can not be scared to try new methods and ways of teaching. They need to be able to break from their old mold and begin a new phase which involves more technology. Some factors and activities that can help teachers develop that 'fearless' attitude may include one of their staff meetings where a computer tech person would give them a lesson. Also, the administration should be very supportive throughout the process and the teachers should all have their own computers at there desk. Teachers may also partake in classes to higher their understanding of computers and how everything works. Lastly, everyone needs to have an open mind and a willingness to learn new concepts. Some factors that may make it difficult could include school budgets not allowing for enough computers to be purchased for computer labs and teachers to have at their desks. Teachers may also be stubborn to the idea of change, mainly due to the fact that they believe their method of teaching has worked this long why change now.

WEB ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES
1. Learning theory in technology-integrated lessons — Identify the learning theory addressed in a WebQuest. Locate a WebQuest at http://webquest.org/. Click on "Top," "Middling," or "New" and then view a WebQuest for a selected grade level and subject area. As you read the instructions and materials included in the WebQuest, make a list of five aspects of the WebQuest that are informed or supported by learning theory. Refer to Figures 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, and 2.6 in the textbook.
Kyle and I selected a WebQuest that was fostered towards grades 6-8 which targeted the water cycle. The instructions consisted of students forming groups of five and investigating the water cycle through various experiments to simulate the different steps in the actual water cycle. The idea that the students need to create various experiments is supported by Jerome Bruner figure 2.4. He states that teachers support discovery learning by providing opportunities for exploring and manipulating objects and going experiments.The students are also suppose to record data and solve problems after view results daily. This is supported by Howard Gardner who states learning is shaped by innate intelligences, logical-mathematical. the students formulate testes and hypotheses and solves problems in science. A third aspect that is supported is figure 2.3 Systems Theory and Systematic Instructional Design. this emphasizes that an instructional system is designed by stating goals and objectives which the students have to follow through the experiment. Figure 2.6 the Educational Implications stresses that instruction should collaborate activities and real-world connections. Through this experiment students can make a connection to how the water cycle works on a daily basis.

2. http://ali.apple.com/ali_sites/hpli/Exhibits/1000734. Click on "The Lesson" to read the instructions to students, and click on "Assessment" to see the rubrics used by the students. Visit the Rubistar website at http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php for templates used by teachers to create custom rubrics. Refer to Figure 2.7 in the textbook and discuss the model that best applies to Mrs. Gaines' lesson and assessment. List three reasons for selecting that model.
After viewing Mrs. Gaines' language arts lesson plan and assessment Kyle and I decided that both follow the constructivist Model. We selected that model because a category in the rubric consist of workload expressing that the work is evenly divided and shared equally among all the group members which emphasizes nontraditional assessments. Secondly, Mrs. Gaines had the students generate their own understanding and knowledge through experiences and after doing background research on the British classic which is a teaching method. Lastly, the group had to be cooperative in order to get the project complete in time which focuses on teaching methods, stress group-based, cooperative work and assessment methods through cooperative group skills.

3. Information literacy — The American Association of School Librarians and the Association for Educational Communications and Technology have published the "Information Literacy Standards for Student Learning" located at http://www.ala.org/ala/aasl/aaslproftools/informationpower/InformationLiteracyStandards_final.pdf. Read the standards and indicators. Consider one standard and indicator, and think of an additional strategy that could be added to Figure 2.12 of the textbook to help students achieve the standard.
We selected standard 3 which states, The student who is information literate uses information accurately and creatively. After reading over the standard and indicators we both decided that an additional strategy we would add to figure 12.2 would be, to develop the thinking processes so that students use information to draw conclusions and develop new understandings of concepts.

Our opinon on the Constructivist Model

We feel that using the Constructivist Model Will help assist us in integrating technology into the classrooms. We hope it will increase students problem solving skills, knowledge transfer, group cooperation, and to allow for multiple intelligence to develop.

From the use of smart boards, computers and other technology we can enhance learning by our students. The only problem with the Constructivist Model is that it is very time consuming and inefficient. Also, students may lack prerequisite skills to handle constructivist problem solving environments effectively.

Chapter 1 Short answer

1.
Name two advances or developments that have occurred in technology since the 1970s that you feel have had significant effects on education, and explain why these technological changes had such effects.
Your Answer:
In 1994 the world wide web (www) was born. This has significant effects on education because it allows for teachers to utilize information they might not be able to access through textbooks. Because as we all know textbooks are very expensive and you can not have them all.
In 1977 the first microcomputers entered the schools. This led to the computer literacy movement. This was our start point.

2.
Discuss one emerging trend in technology and the effect it could have on classrooms and schools.
Your Answer:
I believe Development in portable devices have grown rapidly. We now have laptops and other hand held devices. These have been effective in classrooms and schools because students are able to access information on the web, and you can follow along with the instructors notes. Students are even allowed to bring laptops to the classrooms at the college level to take their notes on.

3.
Explain reasons for developing an electronic portfolio.
Your Answer:
The electronic portfolio is a good idea because the student can put a collection together of all their work overtime. This allows for themselves and others to view their work and see how their skills have developed and progressed. Teachers feel an electronic portfolio is a way to show their accomplishment in their field.

first blog. whoop whoop

Hey whats up everyone my name is Kyle McClinton and I'm from Marion, New York. I am a health and physical education major and i love it. My dad and sister are actually PE teachers. I have two older brothers and two older sisters, so I'm the baby. I enjoy jet skiing, four wheeling, and snowmobiling in the winter. I live right near Lake Ontario so in the summer its fun on the water and in the winter we get tons of lake effect snow. I hope to go to my home town area to teach once I graduate.

I'm know some basics things about computers. We had a couple computer labs throughout middle school and high school. i can actually remember playing spellevator in elementary school. My goals for this class are to grasp a basic knowledge of all the programs in Microsoft office and to make ordinary things extraordinary!