The Creation of Said WebQuest

Well, we have jumped in feet first into this one! WebQuests seem like a very valuable and useful piece of educational technology. By learning how to make them, it will prove to be very useful for me and my fellow teachers as we move into our own classrooms. I really enjoy the fact that there are so many facets to the creation of our own WebQuest, and that we can personalize it any way that we would like. As an instructor, if it does not catch your eye or interest you when you are making it, then what are the chances that it interest your students?! Through the creation of our own comprehensive lesson plan and WebQuest we should be able to better understand the inner workings of this format for educational technology. Let's face it, website are cool (at least the students should think so), therefore making one specifically for class should prove interesting.

Join me for an Adventurous WebQuest?!

WebQuests eh? Well, I can definately see their value in the classroom. The sheer mention of the fact that lessons and classes will be completed on the World Wide Web and I'm sure that the classes will discover some new found motivation. They could also, be hell bent on breaking the rules as they are sitting at a computer with regrettably limited monitoring. These are the pros and cons of all computer lessons though. The good must be taken with the bad. For WebQuests specifically, they seem very useful for lesson planning and integration of technology and academic content. The ones that were discussed in class, a few of them were actually very helpful and informative.

The one thing that I would propose with the use of WebQuests is that they stimulate critical thinking skills throughout the assignment. Regurgitating information, research projects, etc. really have no place with WebQuests. In doing so, the students aren't really learning anything about their connections, implications, uses of their own work. It turns into one huge "copy and paste session", even without the plagarism. I am nervous and excited about being able to create a WebQuest, more so because I want to be able to portray those things that I want the student to get from the experience. This puts a little more pressure on me, but that is alright, that's what being a teacher is all about anyway!

Presentations for Instructional Tech.

Today's instructional tech. presentations were VERY well done. They all presented relevent material, information, resources, uses, etc. that aid in the education of students and educators themselves. The use of laptops in the classroom was interesting. Especially to see the extent of funding into the implamentation of laptops for as many students as possible. Laptops obviously would have a great impact in the classroom. They pointed out things such as individual instruction, the use of online texts, and other areas that may make the academic process more efficient. Laptops, although expensive and hard to come by, would be a very good idea down the road for the vast implamentation of tech. in the classroom.

Smartboards are wicked cool!! The use of these boards appeals towards the student as well as the teacher. This represents yet another technological area that would make learning and participating more efficient. These also illustrate how the use of visually appealing and informative they can be. The use of desktop computers also goes along the lines of the use of laptops only in a different form. In the end, the use of these instructional tech. elements can greatly influence instruction and the educational success of any and all students.

Online Lesson Plans

I have always thought about using online lesson plans. The one thing that stands in my way is my own little pride issue. I sometimes just don't like the idea of borrowing someone else's idea in terms of what or how I am going to instruct my students. For this reason, I use online lesson plans for two real reasons. First, I use them as a fall back for times when I am having a lot of difficulty in making a lesson plan for a particular class for time or content issues. Second, I use online lesson plans when they are either THAT good, or are geared towards intructional tech. in the classroom. Therefore, under these circumstances, I use online lesson plans sparingly but in good context.

The assignment that we are going through seems to be a very good idea in order to instruct teachers and administrators how to plan lessons, as well as provide ideas for the instruction of students in a classroom setting. The use of online sources, especially in terms of primary resources, created a great connection to the classroom via the use of online lesson plans that aim at using these ideals.

Multimedia Uses

I have finally come to the realization that I am a pretty strong visual learner. I never really knew what that was growing up, even through high school and parts of college I could never "classify" myself as following visual cues so much better while learning. I learn better through visual means in most aspects of learning; I draw out my notes and take them whenever possible, I outline assignments as best I can, and I visualize my notes and study guides during tests as a form of mental/visual aid. We are now learning to utilize a visual means of technology in the classroom focused mainly on the use of PowerPoint. By seeing the information that I would need to understand, from a student's standpoint, I would be better suited to comprehend the material.

Especially when it comes to history and the social sciences, there are a number of areas that can be illustrated in a way that is easier to understand rather than merely telling the student. By outlining notes, drawing out time lines, genealogy trees, and cause and effect scenarios these ideas can be approached in different manners by the instructor. It is important to remember that not all students learn in the way, but it remains crucial to differentiate (at least a little) to make sure that you cover those students who learn in different ways than others.

I also enjoy this new application that we have been using in class that it acclimatizing us to the use of Digital Storytelling Programs. I really like the idea of this method as a different and resourceful way of integrating primary sources into the classroom along with providing another means of technology in the classroom besides PowerPoint. Our work on the Gettysburg Address provided me with a wider breadth of knowledge of the applications and uses of PowerPoint and Digital Storytelling devices, especially in terms of using them for Social Science purposes. In the end, another useful tool rediscovered and reinvented.

Copyright and Fair Use Practices

I would have never known that there are so many regulations to follow in order to comply with Copyright and Fair Use laws. Many times, addressing a number of different aspects of the material that you are using can tell you whether or not you are allowed to use it as you would. Examining the material's purpose, nature, amount, and effect can show you how far you might be able to take the information. One thing that can be used to determine whether or not Copyright or Fair Use laws are being broken depends on whether price or profit is being affected. It is interesting to note that the use of materials in the classroom, for specifically educational purposes, is for the most part legal where other areas might not be.
This topic seems very split to me. It seems that one half of the argument is based on information about Copyright and Fair Use that is pretty abstract and unknown, and frankly disturbing. I can say that I myself, as a student teacher, have been in at least a few situations where I might be breaking Copyright or Fair Use regulations. However, the other half of the argument seems rather rudimentary and simple. Covering some of the elements of the material in areas such as commercial activity, "bad-faith behavior", or the denial of credit to the original author or creator. Common sense dictates half of this topic whereas abstract laws and regulations dictate the other half. This strange dichotomy makes it all the more difficult for me to firmly grasp the material. I feel that, in the future, I won't feel comfortable with using outside materials in my classroom without fervently checking for its legality.
The end of today's discussion, covering internet safety, is incredibly important in the classroom. Again, I can attest to the need for teachers to monitor their student's internet habits. This represents one area within teaching and education where the teacher can easily be implicated for wrongdoing when they may not think that they did anything wrong. Ignorance towards the dangers of the internet can end in very severe consequences. It is important for teachers and students alike to take their internet use wisely to foster a more scholarly aspect of educational technology and learning.

Educational Technology at Present

I have been using computers for, it seems like, the better part of my life. However, I have only recently begun to explore the uses of new technology and their implementation in the classroom. I have experience with a number of different standard computing performances such as Word, the Internet, and messaging services. I believe that my comfort level in regards to technology is high enough that I can use my current skills to move forward into the realm of Educational Technology. I began using computers just like any other child did of my generation; exploring the world that was now at my fingertips (literally) via the use of the Internet. I used my computer for school reasons when it was pertinent, but back then, the computer was still just a fin tool to make my life easier. It wasn't until my later years, especially upon entering into high school, that I realized that my computer could not only make my life easier but also make it more efficient and more scholarly.

Having earned a degree in history from Quincy University, I have invariably become more comfortable with the use of modern technology. I have used programs such as Word, PowerPoint, and have researched both primary and secondary sources through databases, library catalogs, and journal archives.

While implementing my skills, I intend to learn more on the subjects of web-based lesson planning and "blogging", research methods, the creation of web-pages and many more applications. I believe that technology plays an increasingly important role in our society and demands attention at the educational level. By educating myself on the uses of modern technology in the classroom, I can therefore help to educate my future students to become more affluent in effectively using technology for educational and scholarly purposes.