Week 14 PLE

I completed parts 1-3 for the PLE :)

I did the course evaluation, the survey, and checked my grades in moodle. The End.

Internet Safety Reflection

I skimmed all of the articles, but I chose to read the article by Elder Bednar entitled "Things As They Really Are" in depth. I loved this article! I just love how he pointed out that Satan doesn't have a body, so he does everything he can to destroy ours. It is a sad realization, but it is true. Satan is going to tempt us and try to make us misuse our bodies. We cannot succumb to the pressures the world puts on us. Technology can be used for great things, but it can also be very harmful. Fidelity is required to enter the Lord's house. We must stay fortified and not desecrate our wonderful bodies.

The video resources were useful as well. I watched a few videos on YouTube. One was about how to protect a family from internet filth. It discussed the importance of putting a computer in the main part of the house. Also, checking the internet history regularly is good. Putting password protection can be a wonderful tool. Also, just make sure you are open with your children about the dangers that are out there. Make a plan about what to do if something pops up on the screen or if they are tempted to do something that makes them feel uncomfortable. And don't only talk about it...role play it. Practice together how to turn off the monitor.

The thing I learned most from the reading and video was that it is very much just a matter of awareness as to the safety of the computer. If a parent or a teacher is aware of what his/her children are doing as they are using the internet, the children will be much safer. Open communication is crucial, and making children aware of the dangers is important.

For my experience, I talked to a woman in my ward. She only has one more child left at home, but this child is exposed to much more technology than her older children were. She already knew that internet safety was important and that there was so much filth out there. I gave her a few statistics about the impact of chat rooms and pornography on today's society. She was shocked. She did share with me the fact that in her home the internet is password protected and that her kids can't get on the internet without her permission. One thing she said she is now going to do is check the internet history more regularly so she can make sure her kids are being safe.

Week 13 PLE--Final Presentation

Here is my final presentation :)

Children online activity sites

Way fun children activity sites...so cool!

Literacy

http://storynory.com/

http://www.storylineonline.net/

http://www.starfall.com/

http://www.kiddierecords.com/

Mathematics

http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html

http://illuminations.nctm.org/WebResourceList.aspx?Ref=2&Std=0&Grd=0

Week 12 PLE

2-3 important things that I learned from the research on technology use with early childhood students:

I learned that students are able to demonstrate fairly symbolic and abstract skills starting at around age 7-8. This is much earlier than I would have expected. I guess I always assumed that students would not be able to do technological things until they were older, maybe age 9 or 10. But they are actually capable much sooner than that.

Using technology can encourage social interaction as well. This is teaching across the curriculum! This was explained in the website when it said that if you put 2 or 3 chairs around the computer the children will work together. What a great idea!

I learned that students benefit much more when the technology is actually IN the classroom rather than in another room. When I was in elementary school we had a computer lab, but no computers were in the classroom (until 5th grade, that is). I guess, if possible, it is best to have computers actually in the classroom.

Lesson Plans :)

I have set up links to my lesson plans! Look in my list list to see them :)

Or go to:

Math http://docs.google.com/View?id=d5fbcd5_10d7zwrrxm

Science http://docs.google.com/View?id=d5fbcd5_9dfhmn84h

Language Arts http://docs.google.com/View?id=d5fbcd5_8f6hqjkfx

Yay!

Week 11 PLE

A Day with Fractions video
The students had varying expressions in this video. Some seemed so excited to have their pictures taken and to smile for the camera while others had very little expression and seemed indifferent to the technology present.
Cube Things video
This video had a bunch of still shot pictures of the children smiling. Their voices were recorded over the music playing in the background. The students sounded excited to be recording their voices. Each student in the class was on the video. The children were each able to create their own movies. From what the students said it sounded like a lot of fun for the students. They were very proud of their videos. They used math and technology together to make some fun videos.
The ABCs of Conservation video
The children seemed to love being on video tape while teaching about how to conserve. This was an adorable video. It seems like kids usually love to be videotaped and that could definitely be seen on this video.