Incorporating New Digital Tools

Digital Cameras: I would like to use Digital Cameras in my classroom because I think it would be beneficial to students to be able to familiarize with different technologies. Some activities can be done using a digital camera, but not the whole project done, but examining different objectives in the whole project. Also I would like to use digital cameras because some children in the classroom may come from low-income homes and they may not get to use these new emerging technologies and it would give those children a chance to explore technology in a whole new perspective. An example of a project that could be used in the classroom would be going to the zoo, dividing the classroom into groups of 4 or 5, and having each group use a digital camera to take a picture of a given animal. Like group #1 would have elephants, group #2 would have penguins, etc. and they would have to use their picture to write a little report on that animal and how they live, eat, sleep, and even play! I also would like to incorporate a webcam into the classroom, providing that I have permission from the school and parents of children in my classroom. I have always thought that having pen-pals with another classroom in the U.S. would have a fun activity to do. We could write letters back and forth and then eventually lead up to seeing what it is like in a different classroom across the states.

Touch Screen Computers: Touch screens can be used for prereaders and children who learn by seeing and touching. I am not sure though how to really incorporate learning by using the touch screens. I know that if I were to have a couple of computers in the classroom they could be used as a reward of finishing their work or doing all of their homework, tiny things like that. As I grew up we always had at least 1 computer in the classroom. I remember taking reading tests on it and sometimes if we got super lucky we could play some learning games on it.

Electronic Whiteboards: I never had the chance to have an electronic whiteboard in my classroom but most of the classrooms I have been in have them now. I would like one in my classroom because it is a fun way for children to interact in the classroom. Instead of using a chalkboard, like back in the old days, we could use the whiteboard to play word games like hangman, tic-tac-toe, and we can also have some learning time by taking notes. Previous teachers, that have had whiteboards in their classroom, have used them for board races and for taking notes, although this was at a high school level. I guess with having a whiteboard we would need to have a projector and an Elmo. For those of you reading this that don’t know what an Elmo is, it’s a projector that is like an overhead projector except it doesn’t use light to project.

Speakers and Headphones: I think having sets of headphones in the classroom is a good idea because it allows the students to listen to books being read to them without having all the background noise. As a student I couldn’t read/pay attention if there were all kinds of different noises in the background. Speakers in the classroom could help with getting children to express themselves. Letting instrumental music play in the background could help those students who don’t like silence focus and potentially do better than without music.

Multiple Intelligence

• What is your own view of how students learn and how you should best communicate with them?

I think that the way of how students learn is by seeing how it should be done. As a student I had trouble visualizing many problems, whether it was in math class or how to write different styles in English class, it always helped me learn easier if the teacher showed me how things were to be done and then I could do it myself. The best way to communicate with a student is by having face-to-face time, or just some one-on-one time. It seems to help the student know that you are there for them and are willing to help them succeed whether they think it or not. As the teacher you are supposed to care about them and sometimes it can be hard to show students that you care but eventually it will get easier to show them and giving them some one-on-one time will help them in the long run.

• What do you believe is the best way to assess the learning characteristics of your students?

We live in a generation that is fast paced as teachers we must do things that capture our student’s attention. This is often done through PowerPoint’s, movies, and even using the smart board, most of those activities are accompanied by hands-on activities.  Learning style tests can help a teacher determine how students will learn their own way. These types of tests will ask about topics as to how their homework, lectures, worksheets, projects, tests, and other assignments help with the way that they learn.

• What is your personal teaching style and how will you adapt it to your students’ needs?

My personal teaching style would have to be musical, but Naturalist and Spatial are very close. Even though I scored higher is musical, the other 2 are very close into how I learn and how I learn. While teaching I can use my main teaching style to incorporate all subjects but also I can use all the other learning styles in all assignments, for those students who aren’t like me and need different ways to learn.

• How does educational technology fit into your teaching style and your future students’ learning styles?

Educational technology fits into my teaching style because through technology music is made using many different software tools. I can communicate with my students through non printed, audio, and musical ways. My main focus point will be musical but I can take advantage of my other intelligences and provide activities that will interact best with all of the eight different learning styles.

• What are your multiple intelligences strengths and weaknesses?

My strength is musical, which is surprising because during my high school and middle school years I was involved with every band program possible, whether it was concert band, jazz band, pep band, marching band, and even the percussion ensembles. I love listening to music, but most importantly I love that I am part of the music sounds that are played daily. My weakness would have to be Existential, because I don’t ever wonder where I have come from, which doesn’t surprise me.