Games and Simulations in the Classroom

I went into this assignment with an open mind. I am not a gamer, and I really don't think that I ever will be one. With that in mind, I probably had a more critical eye than I should have. I was very skeptical of the games, and my reaction is that some of the games seem like a lot of fun while other just seemed like too much work. Since I am not a gamer, I am not sure if all games are like this, but a few of the sites just had too much information within the instructions. Darfur is Dying and Ayiti were a little intense for me. I really did not know what was going on in the game, and I did not have as much control over the game as I would have liked to.

Funbrain and the Roller Coaster sites were a lot of fun for me. I tried to look at the games from a student's perspective, and I could see most students enjoying these sites. Funbrain is great because it allows students of all different ages, skill levels, and interests to find a game that best suits them. Gamequarium was a little comfusing, but a great site for teachers. I am pretty sure that I have used this site before, and it definitely offers games and activities that I could use in my classroom.

I must admit that even though I did not enjoy the Darfur and Ayiti games, some students may. As a teacher I must take into account that a more real life game may interest students as opposed to the bright and fun games. I liked the intentions of these games as well. They offered a lot of information about different cultures that students would probably be learning in the classroom. These sites would most likely be used with specific lessons or topics of discussion, and I am sure that I could find others that would fit along with different lessons that I will teach. The other three sites were ones that I think I would use more often in the classroom, as in throughout the school year.

When it comes to using games, simulations, the computer, and such in my classroom I really want to do so. My problem is that I am not as knowledgeable about computers as I would like to be. I really am interested in what technology has to offer, I just need to take the time to learn what I can use in my classroom. I think that I will definitely ask other teachers who may have more knowledge than myself, and also maybe read information that is available. I think that it is imperative that teachers use all of these new technologies that are available because sooner or later our students are going to pass us up. They already know more than we do, so I think that we should ask for their help and their input and find out what they like to do. I think that the more we can make learning enjoyable for the students, the better. As long as we are getting our point across and the students are learning, I see no obstacle that stands in our way.

Using Technology to Assess Students

Rivero’s article Assessments: A Brave New World, is about a new system called the Instructional Data Management System. This system is used in schools to record and upload assessments that students take in the classroom. Teachers can then compare the assessments and organize them so students can be grouped in appropriate levels. The system is working with the standards of the No Child Left Behind Act, attempting to make sure that every student receives the appropriate instruction needed. With this new system, teachers can get help from other teachers and use the data from the assessments to individualize the instruction and education that they give to their students. The goal for No Child Left Behind is to treat students not as an entire group, but to help every student in succeed.

I really enjoyed reading this article and I think that the system is something that all schools should really try to use. It seems as though it may be a lot of work at first, but the rewards are endless. Teachers will be able to focus their attention on individual needs of their students, and will be more proficient in their instruction. It is often difficult for teachers to go through every assignment and assessment in order to focus on what each student needs. One of the goals of this system is to help organize teachers and to maximize their time in developing lessons and instruction. Another goal is to create an online portal where parents can review their children’s information. The system is also trying to create online assessments that will allow teachers to quickly evaluate their students.

With little time for anything as a teacher, systems such as this one will be extremely helpful. This system is helping schools reach their goals and allowing students to be successful in the classroom. With more individualized instruction, students are getting the one-on-one instruction that they need, and teachers are not having to spend extra time in creating the lessons. I would really like to see this system show up in more schools across the country because I think that the benefits are endless. What teacher would not like to make their life a little easier, while helping their students succeed?

Digital Images in the Mathematics Classroom

Before I began reading this article, I decided that I really wanted to agree with the information presented in it. I love math, so I figured any ways that could make it for fun for students would be great. I must say that I was a little disappointed with the article. Although the idea of using digital imagery in the mathematics classroom is a good idea, I do not think that the author used great examples. I was not awed by the experiments that students can do, so how would this article change my mind as a teacher to use digital imagery in the classroom.
Now here comes the bigger problem. If these ideas do not change my mind as a teacher, what will? I would really love to bring in technology and digital imagery into my classroom because my students will love this stuff, probably know more about it than me, and it will make learning math more fun for them and teaching it more fun for me. If this is the best that we can come up with, then fine. I will take my students out and have them take pictures of rooftops. I will study the vanishing points in pictures. And I will use digital images to solve world problems (by far my favorite idea in this article). I only hope that this is the beginning of our thinking for implementing technology in the mathematics classroom, because I would really love to do it.
I guess the next thing to do is to experiment and brainstorm more ideas. These ideas can be used, but they can't be the best out there. I would really like to ask students if they had any ideas, since they probably know more about technology and digital imagery than myself. What I learned from this article is that there really is room in the math classroom for technology and digital imagery. I love the idea of making math more connected to the students, so that they are more interested in learning. I love the idea of them really "doing" math, and I think that technology is the way to go. As the technology world races past us, we as teachers must try to catch up with our students. They are so knowledgeable about the numerous uses of technology and I think that we can really learn something from them. It only takes a little bit of time to ask our students, research, and experiment. If this is the way to get students more excited about learning, then I am all for it!

The World of Digital Storytelling

This article addresses something that I think is important in a classroom, but very hard to teach everyone. While the digital storytelling is a great idea, I think that it would be rather difficult to do in a large class setting. I also think that it would be difficult to get students who are shy or consider themselves to not be very creative, to actually get actively involved in this type of assignment. I know that I would be very apprehensive to start on a project like this becuase not only am I not comfortable around a computer, but I also do think that I am very creative. I would think that my story was boring and would get frustrated when things did not turn out the way I would like them to.
Now don't get me wrong, I think that the digital storytelling is great, I just think that teachers need to be prepared to have a lot of work ahead of them if they plan on having their students make them. It is imperative that teachers first prepare themselves and become knowledgeable with the programs that the students will be using. Although there will be some students who will already be able to work the programs, there will be others who may have never worked on a computer or those who only have experience with Word and playing games. Teachers must be ready to answer questions, or have another aid to help them when the process begins.
I think that the storymaps and Visual Portraits are a great idea because they allow students to get their ideas on paper and make decisions before they begin the process of making the digital stories. I am someone who likes to put things down on paper first so I can see what it would look like. I do not like to make mistakes and to not have a plan, so something like that would be great for me. Teachers must be prepared for students like me as well as for the students who like to get things done and may not want to plan ahead because it takes up too much time. So, the preplanning is fantastic in this sense! However, teachers must be flexible and allow their students freedom in their preplanning, since not every students will want to plan every little detail beforehand.
So far I am all for the digital storytelling, even though it really scares me. My concern is not only that some students will have a lot of difficulty with it, but also that it must tie in to academics in the classroom. When students learn a new task like this, it is imperative that they see the connection to the real world and their academics. Students will take this new knowledge and use it in the future. Teachers must show the connection and also ask the students for examples of times they can use the digital storytelling. Teachers should also have the topics of the digital stories relate to things that are being studied in the class. As long as everything relates somehow, I think that it is a great idea because our technology is going to grow everyday, so as teachers we must show our students new ways to use it.

Listen to the Natives

Pensky's article offered a lot of interesting information that most people, especially teachers have not thought about or at least not said out loud. I think that this article was fantastic and that its information was something that people really need to think about. As the time changes, along with clothes, cars, fashions, and more, so does the technology that we use. While some people really have a hard time with change, our children embrace it. They love to find new ways to do things and if it makes any task faster for them, then they are all for it. The great thing about technology is that it is always around us and can be used in so many different ways; music, communication, entertainment, planning trips, research, taking a test, and thousands of other ways.
As teachers it is imperative that no matter how much we hate change or are scared of it, we must embrace it like our students. For the most part I honestly think that people are more scared of change than anything else, but the truth is that we cannot avoid it. As our students become more advanced than us with technology, there are less things that we can teach them effectively. There is nothing wrong with asking them for help; everyone student would love to teach their teacher a thing or two. As educators we should allow and want our students to teach us something that they have quickly become experts at. They know how to google, download, talk, make their own websites, etc. and I am sure that they would love to show us how to do the same.
With so little time to get everything accomplished, I think that it is imperative that teachers incorporate technology into the classroom everyday. If we allow our students to do work at home or access information on the web, we can have more time for art, music, PE, and all of the other things that our students are missing out on. There is so much pressure on teachers to get so many things done throughout the school year, and there really is just not enough time. With the use of technology, teachers can organize everything that they want to teach their students find interactive ways to teach them that students will love.
Children spend hours upon hours surfing the web, so why not have them do some school work while they are at it. Now while I think that it is a little silly to have them take a test on the cell phone, I do think that the day will come when this is possible. I think that right now technology is still new and students would take advantage of that, but I do think that it will happen one day.
It is imperative that teachers change with the times. The world is fast pace and is not going to slow down to meet everyone's needs. We need to jump on the band wagon and ask our students how we can incorporate technology in the classroom. There are so many sources out there and programs that we can use that will not only make our lives as teachers easier, but will also interest our students to learn more and get excited about their education.