Learning Journal

Hello, my name is Pamela Medina however I prefer to be called Pam. I am a senior at UTEP, studying education with a concentration in EC-6 general. When graduating I would like to hopefully work with fourth and fifth graders.  I enjoy spending my free time reading any type of book, my favorite book would be The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. In this class I want to be able to learn the ways technology can be used in the classroom.

Throughout this class want to learn as an educator the correct ways to incorporate technology in lesson plans. And the correct way to do this and not to let the websites be the ones to do the teaching. This is how to do guided instruction to help students understand the connection that technology can have in their assignments and the class. Generally speaking, technology is now an imperative aspect of teaching. This is based on the way our society has developed in technology and the many ways it has help us expand our knowledge by giving us access to different sources.  Due to this , as a future educator I find it important to not avoid and see technology as negative thing. Rather, use it to your advantage and have control over the way it is used in the classroom. 

As a student, I can see how technology can be used in education. By being able to use websites that allow collaborative work. This is seen by websites such as google docs where everyone can work and add to an assignment at once. I personally want to work with 4th graders and the use of technology can be tricky with that age. Due to them being able to get distracted by the concept of having technology in the classroom. I would assign assignments where they can be hands on in activities and be able to create.  Such as websites where they can perform experiments that usually won’t be able to be done in the classroom.  As well as group projects where they can collaborate using websites where they can all work together, such as creating pamphlets and more.

    Using websites such as Canva allows students to create presentations that can be interactive. In the way Canva gives options for students to create and creates presentations it can allow students in 3rd or 4th grade to create stories and use the slides to create and move on the stories in a animated manner. It allows space for students to be creative and figure out their own style of art while being academically appropriately. As well as an educator it can be a creative way to create presentations that can keep students engaged by the animations and interactive.

      Looking at the ISTE educator standards we are hitting the standards designer, facilitator and citizen. In the designer aspect we are designing activities that feed in the environment and lesson. The facilitator and citizen go hand in hand. This due to the use of technology in the classroom.  This is done by creating a lesson and activity that allows the use of technology in the classroom that is done in a responsible and academic manner. As for ISTE for students we are meeting innovative designer, creative communicator and digital citizen. These standards are being meet by the use of websites such as canvas that allows students to create projects for the classroom. This is when students are by being responsible online, by being creative in their design and activity and being able to solve problems that are related to their topic. By being effective while doing their online work.

     In using technological devices, it allows access to all the 6c’s of education for the future.  This is because it allows to collaborate, creativity, critical thinking and embrace culture. This is seen by allowing students to work together using this tool. This is by making these projects with these tools as group projects that allows students to communicate effectively and collaborate with one another about their ideas. As for creativity they are creating a project in the tools that engages their attention and their peers. This is by assigning prestation like assignments through the tool because it allows students to find a way how to be creative and engaging. All of these topics cause critical thinking in the students because it makes students have to start thinking of the different ideas, and engagement ways to use on the presentation.

      Students now are given an iPad or computer to use in the classroom, this device has access to Microsoft. In these students can learn how to use Microsoft word to create a newsletter. When it comes to a 2nd-grade class you can use a newsletter to create a lesson based on a book they are reading. You assign the newsletter to be based on the book they are reading and demonstrate what they know about the main topics. These topics are the main idea, characters, settings, summary, and more. It allows the students to demonstrate their knowledge of the book. As well, allows students to be creative in the classroom and interpret the book in their own way.

      In using the ISTE teacher standards we are facilitators, collaborators, and learners. In facilitating we are learning the different ways to create newsletters that then can be demonstrated to students in the classroom. For collaboration, talk to other educators about the way we can use it and the issues that can be brought about by making a newsletter. And make an effective way to use newsletter creation in the lesson plan that is effective. As an educator, we have a responsibility to be learners to know how to create effective newsletters and learn the different methods to use them in the classroom. For the ISTE for students, we are looking at empowered learners, innovative designers,  and creative communicators. The empowered learners are able to use technology to achieve an understanding of the different literary topics that need to present in the classroom. And innovative designers and creative communicators because they are able to be creative and design and express themselves in the way they create their newsletter. This allows a great presentation of the usage of the way technology and creating newsletters through the word.

    In having students create a mindmap we have them use the opportunity to share their knowledge by using technology. It allows a creative way for students to collaborate and create a mindmap on the main ideas of a piece of literature. And as well as be able to create and properly organize their thoughts and ideas.  The website allows for tree maps and bubble maps in doing this it can help create a mindmap of cause and effect, main ideas, characters, and more.

      In looking at the ISTE for students it allows us to see the standards of knowledge constructor, creative communicator, and empowered learner. In using the knowledge constructor we can have students create artifacts that portray their knowledge based on concepts they are learning. This is done by the topics they choose when creating the mind map. Creative communication allows a creative outlet for students to use a platform to demonstrate their concepts. And empowered learners by creating a piece of work that shows competency in their learning goal.  For ISTE for teachers learners, and facilitators. In being a learner and understanding how to use the platforms to create a piece of artifact for students to create and be able to model this to the students. A facilitator for them to use and guide students through instructions and provide the websites they need to show them how to create a mindmap.

    In the 21st century of education we look at what 6c’s we are using with students.  In this we have students think critically about their ideas and how to create a mindmap. As well, they develop creativity because they must create something that is unique to them and relates to the story or topic they are trying to portray. Work collaboratively because it allows students to reflect and share their mindmaps with others and relate and share their knowledge of the concepts of the story.

A timeline project such as this one can be a great project to use in the classroom. Having students create a timeline based on a piece of literature that is fiction or non-fiction can be very useful in the classroom. This allows the student to follow and understand the timeline of a story and be able to identify different parts of the story.  When reading fiction books allows students to be able to identify the introduction, rise of action, climax, falling action, and conclusion. And creatively make a timeline.

When looking at students’ ISTE we are showing students, innovative designers, and creative communicators. In having students become innovative designers we are allowing them to use technology to create timelines based on stories to solve and identify story problems and use the timelines to creatively portray them. In being creative communicators we allow students to create a timeline and show their understanding of meeting goals and use the platform to show their understanding of the stories. Seen by the way they create a timeline and show the different parts of students.  In educators ISTE we are being designers and citizens. In being designers we are making activities that are driven by their learning and creating based on the topic of classes. As for citizen, we are using technology and websites in a positive way. This is by having students use technology for educational purposes.

Students now are given an iPad or computer to use in the classroom, this device has access to word cloud. In these students can learn how to use Word clouds to understand main topics. . When it comes to a 2nd-grade class you can use a word cloud to create a lesson based on a book they are reading. You assign a class word cloud to be based on the book they are reading and demonstrate what they know about the main topics. These topics are the main idea, characters, settings, summary, and vocabulary. It allows the students to demonstrate their knowledge of the book. As well, allows students to be creative in the classroom and interpret the book in their own way.

      In using the ISTE teacher standards we are facilitators, collaborators, and learners. In facilitating we are learning the different ways to create newsletters that then can be demonstrated to students in the classroom. For collaboration, talk to other educators about the way we can use it and the issues that can be brought about by making a word cloud . And make an effective way to use word cloud creation in the lesson plan that is effective. As an educator, we have a responsibility to be learners to know how to create effective word cloud  and learn the different methods to use them in the classroom. For the ISTE for students, we are looking at empowered learners, innovative designers,  and creative communicators. The empowered learners are able to use technology to achieve an understanding of the different literary topics that need to present in the classroom. And innovative designers and creative communicators because they are able to be creative and design and express themselves in the way they create their word clouds. This allows a great presentation of the usage of the way technology and creating word cloud. 

Using a digital book can be very useful in the classroom. It can be useful in a second-grade classroom to have students follow along in a digital book that you can create that represents information that you want them to know. As well can be a way to allow them to be creative and create a story on a topic assigned as a group. I think this is a great idea for them to be creative. 

In looking at the ISTE for students it allows us to see the standards of knowledge constructor, creative communicator, and empowered learner. In using the knowledge constructor we can have students create artifacts that portray their knowledge based on concepts they are learning. This is done by the topics they choose when creating a storybook. . Creative communication allows a creative outlet for students to use a platform to demonstrate their concepts. And empowered learners by creating a piece of work that shows competency in their learning goal.  For ISTE for teachers learners, and facilitators. In being a learner and understanding how to use the platforms to create a piece of artifact for students to create and be able to model this to the students. A facilitator for them to use and guide students through instructions and provide the websites they need to show them how to create a storybook.

    In the 21st century of education we look at what 6c’s we are using with students.  In this we have students think critically about their ideas and how to create a storybook.. As well, they develop creativity because they must create something that is unique to them and relates to the story or topic they are trying to portray. Work collaboratively because it allows students to reflect and share their storybook with others and relate and share their knowledge of the concepts of the story.

A thematic unit is a curriculum based on a central theme.  In my thematic unit, I centralized my theme around seasons. The subjects I decided to do my thematic units are science, English language arts, and fine arts.  I decided to do my thematic unit on this subject because it is a theme that students are familiarized with and can make personal connections with the topic when doing assignments. In doing science, I focused on the earth aspect of the seasons for students to be able to see the creation of seasons and expand their knowledge while still keeping it fun and interesting in the classroom.  As for English language arts, I focused on working on their writing and vocabulary skills. In doing the arts I decided to focus on the fun aspect.

Using this thematic unit I think will be a good aspect of their development of the aspects of the subject being taught. Because they can take their knowledge from the subjects and can be implied in their other work. Such as when they work on newsletters or presentations they can explain their reasoning.  It will allow more practice for the students by them feel comfortable with their knowledge of a. I think it’s important to use a single theme and for them to do assignments on this. Because once students feel comfortable and confident on the topic because they feel knowledgeable.

A disadvantage of the thematic unit is that it can confuse the students. Because they will not learn to separate the subjects from one another. As well, another disadvantage is that they don’t get exposed to other parts of the subject. Such as in English language arts, they won’t be exposed to other reading genres such as drama and more

Throughout this class, I have learned how technology can be used correctly and effectively to promote lesson plans and allow students to be creative. It is helpful to understand that there can be activities that can engage students to learn a big idea by being able to create different models using the technology in class. As I currently work in a classroom, I have been able to observe to engage the students in the classroom by making them do activities that can be very unengaging and makes them want to finish quickly. This is such as reading articles and taking quizzes. However, through this class, I was able to see that you can use a computer to read. Nevertheless, you can create amazing projects that demonstrate clear asseassessmentthe student understands the topic being taught.