Thursday, September 25, 2008

WEEK 5

What is your personality type?
My characteristic on the test was ENFJ "The Giver"
As an ENFJ, our primary mode of living is focused externally, where we deal with things according to how we feel about them, or how they fit into our personal value system. The secondary mode is internal, where we take things in primarily via your intuition. ENFJs are people-focused individuals. we live in the world of people possibilities. More so than any other type, they have excellent people skills. They understand and care about people, and have a special talent for bringing out the best in others. ENFJ's main interest in life is giving love, support, and a good time to other people. They are focused on understanding, supporting, and encouraging others. They make things happen for people, and get their best personal satisfaction from this. I do agree in some part of the test because I like to help other and make them feel much better if they have problem or if they need someone to talk to. I also like to encourage other and motivate when they feel depress. Therefore, I like to help other and also give back to the community.


What do think about Wikis? Would you be able to use it in your own classroom?
I think Wiki is really interesting website were you can find anything quickly. Wiki is a type of Web site that allows users to add, remove, or edit and change available content. However, one of the criticism of Wiki is that because anyone can create and edit wiki pages, the content may no be accurate. I do think is good way to let students explore wiki by assigning students project of researching. The Wiki would offer to the students environments for students to engage in collaborative, coauthored work that can continually evolve and improve. Because of the high degree sharing and revision that wikis support which there is also high degree of critical analysis possible as students evaluate the ideas. Therefore, for students using Wiki it would allow the students to analyze the results of their choices and combine that critical thinking with a demonstration of the knowledge they have gained through researching.


Do you believe that learning by conversing in learning communities can be more effective than traditional instruction? What evidence would we need to confirm (or reject) that belief?
I think for me Traditional instruction consisted of an instructor and live demonstration. Which it could help students to understand better or to learn. I do think having a demonstration before doing an assignment. It would help students to comprehends much better rather than just telling the students. For example if you teach Math if you have to solve a problem in your classroom. You are not just going to tell the students this is how you do it instead of writing on the board and solving the problem. Been able for student to understand you would have to explaining the steps that you have to go through to be able to solve the problem. Therefore, I would choose Traditional instruction because not everyone comprehends in the same way the parson may be telling you how.


Do you think that students have different learning styles because of their personality types? According to the test that you have just done, do you think it will help you know your students better? How?
I do agree that students have different learning styles. I do agree that not everyone understand in the same way as other. However, we (learning teacher) have to we aware on the different way of styles you have in your class. Because you might have some ESL (English Second Language) students that are not going to be able to understand as fast as other students. Therefore, is very important to know the styles of your students in your classroom. because you do not want to teach in only one way were some students might understand on other do not. However, as person we know that everyone is different in aspect in the person characteristic because if everyone was the same it would be a boring world to live.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

WEEK 4

What do you think about Spreadsheet? Is it useful? Would you use it in your classroom?
I think using spreadsheet can help you to be more organize and can help you keep a things in record. For example, keeping students grade you can find easy the class average and individual average. However, using the spreadsheet can help you calculate mathematical problems without having to struggle on finding the solution. The unique thing about the spreadsheet is that you have all kind of formulas and you can also be creative. Students can also use to compare different things and they can even illustrate by using a graph, pie, and other types of graph. Therefore, I would say is a good idea to use in the classroom so the students can be familiar with spreadsheets and the most important learn how to use the spreadsheet.


Why do we use Spreadsheet? What is the advantage of a Spreadsheet over a calculator?
Using spreadsheet can help keep record. However, building spreadsheet models engages a variety of mental processes that require learners to use existing rules, generate new rules describing relationship, and organize information. It also can help you find solution for example you can find the average on your student as individual or as a class. The unique thing I like is because you can use the formula that they give you are you can type the formula you are looking for. Once, you find the formula you just highlight the number you need and it would do the problem for you. Therefore, I would recommend to use the spreadsheet and also practice to get better each time.


According to the textbook, it mentions the three primary functions of Spreadsheets. What do you think about them? Can you think of something else?
Well, I think those tree steps are right on storing, calculating, and presenting information. For example as we did on Monday in class while we work on excel on the grade book. First we put the information in the excel by putting the students information such as their name and test grade. Second step was trying to find the average for each students and the average of the class. Third, once we found the average we highlight the table and insert and graph. Finally, it we were able to see how well did students did. Therefore, I think those three steps are a good way to find a good presentation.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Week 3 (Ch. 4)

please tell what you find, what you think, and what interests you. How and why may you use Inspiration in your classroom?
After looking at the website and watching the Inspiration tour. I find out it was really interesting and very useful for teacher and students. For a student the inspiration allow them to do homework or any different activity at school. It would also allow students to complete any task or project. If they do not know how to use the inspiration would help them by using by letting students watch a video. Therefore I would say that Inspiration is a good tool to use at school because it would allow students to complete any task or project. The Inspiration would give all the tools they need to accomplish their work.

What type of writing activities would make the best use of technology in your classroom?
Writing is an activity that benefits from multiple revisions and high-quality feedback. Recognizing that your teaching time is limited, how can you have students help each other during writing? How can you use technology tools to support peer feedback?
By using the Inspiration Student may externalize their internal mental models using a variety of computer based mind tools, including databases, concept mapping, spreadsheets, micro worlds, system modeling tools, expert systems, hyper media construction tools, constraint based discussion boards, and visualization tools, for construction models of things that students are study. Therefore, the Inspiration would allow the student to be created. Inspiration also would allow the students to accomplish their work more easy. Most students use the concept mapping because the tools are also affectively used to model the semantic organization of systems, problems, stories , or thinking processes of students. One of the good things is that Inspiration would teach the students how to use inspiration by watching videos and explaining them how to use each tools.

Friday, September 5, 2008

Question #3

What do you think about using blogs? What and how do you think blogs would be useful for education? Some people think using blogs in classrooms is a waste of students’ time. How would you respond?

I think Using blogs is a good way to communicate with other people around the world. Blog is a website were you can post anything without know any codes or technical difficulties. I think blogs would be a great idea for teacher to use. Blog will allow a better communication between the teacher and students. It also would allow the students communicated and discussion like if there were in class. The other thing is that parents would be allow to see what their child are doing at school. For, example they can see what they study and the activities they did at school. By using the blog teacher can also upload documents such as; homework, notes, PowerPoint, discussions etc.. Therefore, I think it would help students have a better education and communication. I do not think is not a waste of time because you can communicate with different people around the world and meet new people.



What are some ways that you could use he technology ideas in Chapter 6 to support your curriculum and student learners?

Using the technology to communicate it would allow to communicate fast. One of the fast and easy way to communicate with students is using a blog. Blog will allow students to communicate with their teacher in a fast way. Blog would allow students to use a blog as personal diaries or journals for individuals to post their own thoughts and ideas. Using blogs as virtual field trips offers students the opportunity not only to read about the traveler's experiences but also to interact with scientist, researchers, and explorers in meaningful ways. By using online discussion it would allowed students who needed more processing time to respond to have as they needed to participate in the class's online discussion.

Monday, September 1, 2008

Introduction!!!

Hola, my name is Mariana Marcos I was born in Veracruz, Mexico. I'm a Business Administration major with a minor on Business Education. I been living in Commerce, Texas for eleven years. I have two older sisters and two older brother. I enjoy sports and working out I also like to walk my dogs. I also like to go out and dance with my friends. My favorite color is Blue... =)