What types of software applications do I use in the classroom? Well, Fort Wayne Community School (FWCS), uses a site called Pinnacle. We use Pinnacle for many purposes including taking attendance daily, entering grades and running various types of reports. I love using Pinnacle. I don't even take grades in a traditional gradebook at all anymore because it is so much easier to do it on Pinnacle. You can enter any point value that you want for the assignment and even pick specific learning standards to correlate with the assignment Pinnacle is also used to generate progress reports and report cards. It's really great!
We also use the Oregon DIBELS site for entering DIBELS scores. It can be time consuming to enter the scores, but if you keep up with it weekly, it really isn't that bad.
We have a program called Read About that allows students to do online reading activities and work on different reading skills. All the passages are informational texts which is great because there is a big push to focus on that.
Of course there are programs like Microsoft Word that I use all the time and Microsoft Publisher which is great for making newsletters. I would definitely like to get better at using Microsoft Excel. For some reason I have never really been able to get a good grip on using Excel. I see some of my colleagues use it very well and I admit to being a bit jealous sometimes of their mastery of it. I would like to start practicing using Excel and gradually build confidence in my ability to use it effectively. Wish me luck!
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Am I Ready For the 21 Century?
Hello readers! Welcome once again to Mr. Durnell's World! I am still thinking about technology. I just can't seem to stop thinking about it! After all, it's everywhere. In fact, I would not be able to reach all of you wonderful readers if it weren't for the laptop that I have sitting here on the couch with me. I do enjoy technology and use it regularly, but I admit I do not have to have technology all the time like some people do. In fact, sometimes it nice to have a break from it! It's nice to take a bike ride (with no mp3 player or Ipod!),and just enjoy nature and your thoughts. I don't think people do this enough nowadays, they are always "plugged in" to something.
This brings me to my classroom. I do find technology useful in the classroom, but I admit to being selective with the technology that I decide to use. I want to make sure that the technology is useful, and that it meets a real learning objective, and is not just in use for the use of using technology (tongue twister!)
I think that there are certainly skills that children need to know how to do. A student should know how to use "spell check" to check the spelling of their work for example. They also should know how to use search engines and how to copy and paste. These are all very important 21st century skills. They will use these skills throughout the rest of their schooling (including college) and throughout their lives. I must teach students these skills, just as I teach them how to use the index and glossary in a book.
Luckily, there is a computer lab class that students have once a week with the computer lab teacher. This helps to reinforce skills that I teach and also introduce new ones. Preparing students for the 21st century really needs to be a team effort.
Going forward, I think that some of the challenges that I face are being that I am somewhat traditional in many ways and not always on the "cutting edge" of things. I am not always up on new technology innovations and usually end up being introduced to them by other people (usually our building coach!). Once I get going on something though, I really enjoy it. I have something called a Mobi, which is a wireless device that allows you to control your computer while being anywhere in the room. This way, if you are showing something on your screen for students, you do not have to sit right by your computer. You can be in the mix with your students. I love using the Mobi and use it just about every day. This is something that I know I never would have come across on my own, but once I was introduced to it, I found it it very useful. I think that is my philosophy basically, just be open to these new things. Technology is like other things after all, not all of it is good and not all of it is bad. You have to try different things to decide what is useful and what works for you. My goal for this year is to try at least five new technology based learning skills in the classroom. I will let you know how it goes! Wish me luck!
This brings me to my classroom. I do find technology useful in the classroom, but I admit to being selective with the technology that I decide to use. I want to make sure that the technology is useful, and that it meets a real learning objective, and is not just in use for the use of using technology (tongue twister!)
I think that there are certainly skills that children need to know how to do. A student should know how to use "spell check" to check the spelling of their work for example. They also should know how to use search engines and how to copy and paste. These are all very important 21st century skills. They will use these skills throughout the rest of their schooling (including college) and throughout their lives. I must teach students these skills, just as I teach them how to use the index and glossary in a book.
Luckily, there is a computer lab class that students have once a week with the computer lab teacher. This helps to reinforce skills that I teach and also introduce new ones. Preparing students for the 21st century really needs to be a team effort.
Going forward, I think that some of the challenges that I face are being that I am somewhat traditional in many ways and not always on the "cutting edge" of things. I am not always up on new technology innovations and usually end up being introduced to them by other people (usually our building coach!). Once I get going on something though, I really enjoy it. I have something called a Mobi, which is a wireless device that allows you to control your computer while being anywhere in the room. This way, if you are showing something on your screen for students, you do not have to sit right by your computer. You can be in the mix with your students. I love using the Mobi and use it just about every day. This is something that I know I never would have come across on my own, but once I was introduced to it, I found it it very useful. I think that is my philosophy basically, just be open to these new things. Technology is like other things after all, not all of it is good and not all of it is bad. You have to try different things to decide what is useful and what works for you. My goal for this year is to try at least five new technology based learning skills in the classroom. I will let you know how it goes! Wish me luck!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Are you a native or an immigrant?
Technology is all around us. It has a huge impact on the world that we live in. Our children that are growing up today are living examples of "digital natives." What is a digital native you ask? Sounds like something out of the movie "The Matrix," right? Actually, a digital native is a person that has access to computers and technology their entire lives. My daughter, who is seven, would be an example of a digital native. There has never been a time in her life when there was not technology in her home. Now I, on the other hand, would be referred to as a "digital immigrant." That means that when I was born and growing up (born in 1976 if you're wondering), we did not have a computer in our household and I had barely any access to them until I was in my early twenties. I then started to use computers and technology more and more and am very comfortable with it now, but know that I have differences in the way I use it compared to the natives. I, for one, still prefer to buy music on cd's, where a native would just download. I know "how" to download it but my memory of my dad buying albums, then tapes and cd's when I was growing up has influenced my preference.
Now as a fifth grade teacher, I have a room full of digital natives every single day. 26 of them to be exact. I admit that I am not the greatest at integrating technology into the classroom but I try to do my best and to keep learning trying new things. I have my students use the Read About program to practice reading skills and comprehension, I have them do research online, type out stories they have written, practice math skills and work on online scavenger hunts. I believe that some barriers that I face besides my own personal barriers are barriers based on what I have access to. My district does not have Ipads or other similar devices for students and many other things that I have heard teachers in other districts discuss. You really have to work with what you have when it comes to technology and make the most of it. Although my students are digital natives, my school is a Title 1 school and many of my students don;t have computers at home so it is great for them to be able to use those at school and I am thankful that we have them.
The Biblical directive to "Fear Not," applies in this discussion because many teachers, especially digital immigrants do have a bit of a reluctance and fear when it comes to using technology in the classroom when compared to digital natives. I for one, would never communicate with students through Facebook or Twitter where some natives are comfortable with that.
Lucky for me I am starting a new course called EDU 554! I believe that this course will help expose me to the ways that other teachers use technology. I look forward to hearing the ideas that others have as well as sharing my own. I hope that by the end of this course I will have some new weapons in my technology arsenal that I will have at my disposal. Check back here to follow this journey and post here if you have any comments or suggestions. Until next time....
Now as a fifth grade teacher, I have a room full of digital natives every single day. 26 of them to be exact. I admit that I am not the greatest at integrating technology into the classroom but I try to do my best and to keep learning trying new things. I have my students use the Read About program to practice reading skills and comprehension, I have them do research online, type out stories they have written, practice math skills and work on online scavenger hunts. I believe that some barriers that I face besides my own personal barriers are barriers based on what I have access to. My district does not have Ipads or other similar devices for students and many other things that I have heard teachers in other districts discuss. You really have to work with what you have when it comes to technology and make the most of it. Although my students are digital natives, my school is a Title 1 school and many of my students don;t have computers at home so it is great for them to be able to use those at school and I am thankful that we have them.
The Biblical directive to "Fear Not," applies in this discussion because many teachers, especially digital immigrants do have a bit of a reluctance and fear when it comes to using technology in the classroom when compared to digital natives. I for one, would never communicate with students through Facebook or Twitter where some natives are comfortable with that.
Lucky for me I am starting a new course called EDU 554! I believe that this course will help expose me to the ways that other teachers use technology. I look forward to hearing the ideas that others have as well as sharing my own. I hope that by the end of this course I will have some new weapons in my technology arsenal that I will have at my disposal. Check back here to follow this journey and post here if you have any comments or suggestions. Until next time....
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Hello and welcome!!!!!!
Hello! Welcome to Mr Durnell's World! I will be discussing my thoughts on education today and my perspective as an elementary school classroom teacher. I welcome all feedback and opinions so feel free to post replies. My first posting on technology in the classroom will be coming soon!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)