Chapter 11 was about using the internet and technology to help instruction. I believe the internet has opened hundreds of doors to engage each and every student. It can offer support to students and adults of all ages. “Electronic text allows for the seamless incorporation of the audio-visual features. Graphics, audio and video can be inserted to add depth to text or to act as the text itself. The inclusion of these features can make the text interactive” (p 224). Personally, I am a visual learner so if I see words and pictures on a computer screen, I will be more apt to be engaged and interested.
Chapter 11 talked about Web Quests. I have had two experiences with Web Quests. First, during my student teaching experience at a Pittsford middle school, my cooperating teacher and I created a Web Quest for our eighth graders to practice their clothing vocabulary. They had to shop online at given French stores in Paris (we gave them the websites) and they had to describe what they bought. They were also given budget. Other activities included listening to an advertisement (in French), writing what they heard, and reading advertisements online and explaining what clothing is on sale. The students loved it! We met in the computer lab for three days and they had the freedom to complete the Web Quest on their own, at their own pace and in whatever order they wished.
My other experience with the Web Quests was when I created one for a technology class I took at St. John Fisher. I had my own website and linked the Web Quest to it. I had a lot of fun creating the website and the different activities. The theme of my Web Quest was that students were given a free trip France and there was some important information they should learn before they leave. They had to watch a video I put together from my pictures from my study abroad trip and then complete different activities based on the major monuments in Paris. I have yet to use this with students but I can’t wait to try it out soon. Check it out at:
The chapter also talked about teachers having their own websites. I think technology has been extremely helpful to strengthen the home-school communication because so many families have computers and can easily check teacher’s websites. When I have a full-time job, I plan on creating a website and keeping up with it. I want to have somewhere my students can go to get the week’s agendas, homework, and helpful links. I also plan to post PowerPoint presentations or any notes I have for the week so if students are absent, they can stay up with the work. I think teacher websites are great to post pictures or videos of what students are doing in class as well. I think the students would feel proud and excited to show their parents their teacher’s websites display of their work.
I also really liked how the book talked about teacher websites. It is helpful in college when teachers have a blackboard site. This way students can check it to see if they forgot something or find something (such as a syllabus) that they may have lost.
ReplyDeleteFor another class, I have been working on a blog with a bunch of books. This is one site I know that I will attach to my teacher website for students and parents to refer to.