Week 4: Presentations for the Classroom

Presentations that use a powerpoint format can be very beneficial in the classroom.  However, in some cases, they are no different to the over head projector sheets teachers formerly used when presenting topics.  This happens when teachers put massive amounts of text onto a slide and expect the students to read it and/or write it down.  Although this is using technology, it is very boring and involves very little if any student interaction and involvement.  Some try to add sound effects and/or clip art, but this is does little to make it any more of a valuable learning tool.

A better way to teach with this technology is to add important topics or text to each slide and then the teacher discusses freely.  By doing this, the students don't have to sit and look at a screen full of words.  They can get involved in a conversation that goes over the important topics.  From there, they can write down what the message is that the teacher is trying to get across along with the many other things brought up in the conversation. 

This technology can be very complicated though. I had a difficult time trying to get my presentation to be exactly how I wanted it.  Specifically, I was not able to figure out how to add a spreadsheet I currently have to one of the slides.  Instead, I had to find a picture on the web that somewhat resembled what I was trying to show.  In cases like this, I feel teachers could get extremely frusterated with the process and just resort to what they are comfortable with.  Workshops or a faculty member to help teachers with this technology would be beneficial.

Week 3: NJ Technology Standards: Learning Activity for Health and P.E.

Standard 8.1 - Educational Technology: All students will use digital tools to access, manage, evaluate, and synthesize information in order to solve problems individually and collaboratively and to create and communicate knowledge.
Strand A - Technology Operations and Concepts
Grade - By the end of 12

CPI - 8.1.12.A.1 - Construct a spreadsheet, enter data, and use mathematical or logical functions to manipulate data, generate charts and graphs, and interpret the results.

A learning activity I'd like to do integrates Educational Technology with weight training.  Weight training is extremely important to one's overall health and longevity.  Lean muscle mass begins to deteriorate as one ages.  It is paramount that lean muscle mass is gained and maintained throughout the body and one's life in order to function in a normal manner in the latter part of life.  Lifting weights is a skill that must first be learned.  Proper technique and exercise selection is vital for injury prevention and efficiency.  When one has learned the basics in these topics, program planning and evaluation can be learned.  I plan to integrate the use of spreadsheets, data entry, and graphs into my weight training lessons once these skills are learned. 

The students will learn how to design a total body 3 day a week/1 month weight training program.  We will then use a spreadsheet program to input the data, use mathematical functions, and develop the skills needed to track progress in one's strength gains with the addition of graphs and charts.

These skills will help the students to be more efficient in their weight training endeavors throughout one's life.

Week 3: 21st Century Skill Implications

After watching the videos, especially the Chatham High School one, I feel stronger that we need to embrace technology in the classroom.  I read a couple of other students' blogs and I really got to thinking about the implications of losing certain basic skills like writing in cursive or looking something up in an encyclopedia.  I understand that those two skills are good to have, but are they a neccessity? I don't think so. I can't remember the last time I wrote in cursive or looked something up in an encyclopedia. I somewhat believe that those skills are obsolete.  Typing and print hand writing is what is relevant today.  Credible internet information gathering is also a relevant skill needed in today's society.  There was a reason why we stopped writing with bird feathers and ink well pens.  There was a reason why very few people still use the abacus. Certain skills become obsolete.  We move on to something that is more efficient.  This is evolution.

As a future Health and P.E. teacher, I won't have much to do with technology in the classrooms except for my Health lessons.  There, I must integrate a variety of media along with the designated book to get my information across, all while keeping the students on task and motivated.

When I job search, I would like to work in a school that promotes healthy living and has computer use for students that allows me to bring real life issues into the lesson and use real life solutions to fix the problem, similar to the Hydrology video.  I can use certain websites with my students to help track dietary consumption, like a food log.  This can help break down and show how many calories of each macronutrient (fat, carbs, and protein) students are taking in.  A lesson like this can stick with students for a life time.  Teaching them how to track their eating habits and eat properly can help bring the high rates of obesity down.

Week 2: Teacher Website

When deciding how effective a website is, many factors come into play.  The message it gets across, accurate information, proper grammer, and ease of navigation.  I looked at a few different websites.  The one I'm choosing to share, the Ridgewood Public Schools website, can be seen here: Ridgewood High School. 

This site had a lot of information.  I found it hard to navigate at first.  I really had to search around to find the teacher pages.  Once I found them and read the information they were posting, I could see how a teacher website could be useful.  For instance, if a student was absent they or their parents could check the website to see what was missed.  Parents can also keep track of student progress and homework schedules. As for overall effectiveness, I'd give this website a 7/10. It wasn't very visually stimulating, it was hard to navigate, and the overall information seemed smashed together. My opinion may be caused by lack of time spent getting used to the site, but isn't that what's the matter with it? One shouldn't have to get used to a site.  They should be able to navigate with ease and find the information they are searching for.

These websites are very useful, but only when they are not jumbled with information, hard to navigate, updated on a regular basis, and put to good use.

Week 2: Why I decided to become a Health and P.E. teacher

I am coming back to school to get my teaching certification in Health and P.E. I originally received my undergrad degree in Exercise Science. I love fitness, both personally and helping others achieve their goals.  I have been in the Strength and Conditioning/Athletic Performance field for three years now. I have done an internship at the United States Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Ca, a graduate assistantship with the strength and conditioning department at North Dakota State University, and I've worked at Velocity Sports Performance for the past year.  To say the least, I love the work that I do.  However, this field doesn't pay very well nor does it allow me to work with non athletes.  This is why I am coming back to school to become a teacher.

Teaching has always been in my blood. I enjoy working with children. I wish so many people hadn't talked me out of the teaching profession early on.  I can not wait to get into the classroom and gymnasium to put my expertise and active personality to use.

Week 1

Technology Background: I would say I have an intermediate level of technology understanding.  I took Computers 1-3 in high school, which basically taught the ins and outs of Microsoft Office.  That was the only formal technology training that I have as far as computers go.

Feelings of Technology: Technology must be embraced, however, it should not be used as a crutch.  I can remember not too long ago when I did not own a cell phone. Today, if i misplace my cell phone or if it breaks, I feel completely lost without it.  I'm not even on it that often during the day, so I can't imagine how those who talk and/or text all day feel when they lose their phone.  I absolutely love how information is at my finger tips though. If I ever need to know something, all I have to do it open up my web browser on my phone and search for it. It's amazing!

Expectations For This Course: I hope to learn new ways to use technology in the classroom.  I also hope to develop the way of thought to come up with my own ways to integrate technology into a Health and P.E. class.