Post 4

1.      Social bookmarking is a way for computer network users to save and categorize their collection of bookmarked webpages, as well as share with others.  A user is also able to access and save bookmarked sites from others who share their bookmarks, to save them to their own lists.  Bookmarks are also able to be tagged so they’re easier to find and access.

     As a student, social bookmarking could help me by saving webpages that I would need to access to complete work for my classes.  I could also bookmark the webpages that I regularly access that are specifically for the classes I am taking.

     Once becoming a teacher, social bookmarking can help me by bookmarking sites for lesson plans, sites I would like to share with students as part of a lesson plan, as well as any other suggested/saved (or bookmarked) page by other teachers, that may help me as well.

2.      In the choice whether to switch to Google Docs or continue using Microsoft Word, I believe I would vote to stay with Microsoft Word.  Microsoft Word has word processing online that has auto correct and Google Docs does not, which helps to make Microsoft Word the stronger program.  In all of Microsoft Office’s applications, Microsoft is a step ahead of Google Docs.  It is also my personal preference since I have used Microsoft Word for quite a while now and I know how to use each of the applications and the options that are available for each of them.

Post 3

1.      Students can conduct group projects with Excel, which will enable them each to participate and see the results instantly.  Within the group projects, the students will also be able to graph the results as well as predicting what future results could be.  This can be part of standard number one of creativity and innovation.

2.      After conducting research and collecting data on any given subject, students can locate, organize, analyze and evaluate the information collected.  Once the data is collected, the students can process and report with graphs through Excel, having that as a nice, well organized was to express the findings of the information gathered, satisfying standard number three.

3.      Students can use several Excel work sheets to work through science projects with tracking the different stages of the scientific method.  This can be used to help fill the sixth standard with being able to understand how to use technology to conduct the scientific method with whatever project, completing the Excel worksheets.  They would also be able to troubleshoot any issues they may come across.

                                                 

4.      For a student board committee, Excel spread sheets could be used to present information on class funds, activities, and meeting notes to be able to present to other students or faculty.  Excel could also include a chart to show the progress of how the group may be doing with projects at hand as well as finances for the class or organization.  This can fill most of the points for the second standard.

5.      An activity for younger students, helping them to understand expenses, have the students create a spreadsheet for a situation of something they would like to save their money for.  This activity can help them figure out how long it would take for them to save up the money needed to buy the item they want.  In this activity, the students will be using critical thinking and decision making.  They think about what item they want and research that item to find how much it costs at different stores.  Students also use decision making to narrow down the items they want to one or two things, so they would be able to afford it sooner.  This will incorporate standard number four. 

Post 2

In some respects my perspective is the same and others it is different from those of the students.  I am able to use technology in basic and simple ways, speaking some of the language the students may, but I am not in any way a tech savvy person and many young students today would surpass me in their technological knowledge.  As I said in Post 1, I do however, believe and support the idea of having a mix with technology use as well as teacher/human interaction within the classroom.  I find a good way to integrate the two is to have an online discussion through Wikis, about a topic taught in class.  This would create a read/write web where students ask and answer questions as well as post comments on other classmates' posts.  Such activity will also help the students in their reading and writing.  As mentioned in the EDUCAUSE reading, it is felt by those of the Net Generation and later that understanding technology is necessary for life currently as well as existence in the future, but I somewhat disagree.  In all areas of life (although they seem to be disappearing), people got by just fine without technology.  Therefore, I believe it is possible to survive without a technology based world... with exceptions.  Also seen in the "Appy Trails Finale" video, a majority of college students are conductiong meetings, doing group projects, and making appointments without evening leaving their dorm room, coming to love and appreciate the simplicity of the applications that Google and other web browsers have come to offer.  I personally still enjoy physically meeting and getting a project done that way.  It helps me feel as though I, and the group, are successfully make progress on the project at hand.

Post 1

For each of the Digital Natives, Net Generation and 21st Century learners, they all enjoy having technology incorporated into their education somehow.  Studies have shown that neither of them prefer to have all lecture lessons or all technology based lessons, they each enjoy technology being used along with teacher interaction.  I am a strong supporter and enjoy learning with a mix of teaching and learning tools, some lecture but with some technology and interaction involved.  I tend to be more of a hands on learner with some instruction so the involvement is very important I feel.  I believe these new concepts make a lot of sense since it had been quoted by Mark Prensky that without technology in classrooms, the students are "mind-numbingly bored."  "I'm bored 99 percent of the time" (California), and "My teachers bore me so much I don't pay attention" (Detroit).  Without the mixed interaction and technology, with students becoming bored, it will cause them to lack motivation to go to class and learn anything, and to even drop even more so than before or now.  I can also relate, if a professor just stands at the front of the room and lectures, I also quickly lose interest, especially if it is a subject I am not necessarily interested in.  When a professor has power points, especaially ones I can print ahead of time and add my own notes, it helps me to be more engaged since I do not have to constantly be writing everything down.  Including videos or guest speakers, or other activites, also helps me to be more interested and engaged as well.