Chapter 7

Chapter 7 focuses on how teachers can promote inquiry learning and problem solving using educational software.

There are so many software and applications today. They are designed to be more and more easier for users to use. Like the image editing application, when I was in high school, Photoshop was the most popular software. However it was not so easy to use. My college roommate bought a book and decided to learn it during a summer break. My university even launched a course for undergraduate students to learn to use Photoshop. Today, image editing applications are so easy to use. You do not need to buy one, there are a lot of free applications that you download them. Most smart phones allow people to edit photos right after taking them. If you want to post photos online, most related websites also can help you edit them with very simple steps.

The educational software is also becoming more easier. Since there are so many applications and they are so easy to use, it is a problem for teachers to decide which one is appropriate to use. Teachers should learn how to evaluate educational software. They must identify what kind of software is high-quality and encourage high order thinking by students.

Questions:

1. How to design a class using educational software?

2. Since some students are more familiar with using software, how can teachers evaluate students while using software?

3. How can teachers avoid the negative affects from violent video games?

Chapter 4 & 6

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 discusses that how can teachers integrate technology into their classes, how can they take advantages of technology to promote successful learning, and how to involve students in the educational change.

At the beginning of this chapter, it indicates two elements that are necessary for technology and instruction to create successful learning: teacher mindset and multiple pathways. These two elements dispel my doubts about using technology in education. From "Teacher mindset", it says, "content must come before technology". It reminds teachers that they should think about their teaching goals first, then to consider how to use technology to promote these goals. Technology and traditional teaching skills are not isolated in education, they should be integrated. In fact, both of them are working for a same teaching goal. From "Multiple pathways", it mentions that research shows that engaging and exciting instructional activities can occur using only one or two computers. "Technology integration is more about how technology is used by teachers than about the amount of technology a teacher has to use". However, just like the Web Quest video we saw last class, the method of using computers can be multiple. Teachers can separate students into groups, and to make each student in their group act as a different role. To ensure the group work works well, each role should function effectively. In that case, they can share computers. Teachers are controllers; how to use technology depends on different course designs.

Questions:

1)      When technology is used into class, how should teacher do evaluation? It should depend on how well students learn the knowledge or also includes how they use the technology?

2)      The technology skills used in class should be taught to students in a specific class, or teachers who use it should teach students themselves?

3)      How to do the out-class technology based assignments if some students are not equipped with that?

Chapter 6

            Chapter 6 introduces a lot of useful information about information management and some useful resources, such as WebQuests and educational websites.

            Last week, we have learned what WebQuest is. Actually, it is a totally new thing to me. I’ve never heard about it before the class. It is interesting and attractive for students, especially to learn some boring knowledge. It is amazing. Not only can it be used to elementary school students, but also students with further education. After doing the video program and learning WebQuest, I feel like using technology into education is not that impropriate as I thought before. To be honest, education gets benefits from technology. Using technology can make the class more attractive to students, and students will be easier to concentrate on the knowledge. There is no doubt that there are more resources offered online that is convenient for both teachers and students to learn about their subjects. Using technology is also another kind of learning. When I tried to create the video, although professor taught us briefly in class, there were still a lot of difficulties. Overcoming these difficulties and learning how to use it by myself are very important learning experience for me.

            The listed techniques from Chapter 6 are really a good knowledge base for teachers. It is very important for teachers to know how to manage information. Also, it is teachers ability to guide students to involving in learning with technology.

            Questions:

1)      How to make students who don’t know technology very well to engage in a technology based classroom?

2)      How can teachers who are used to using the traditional teaching style, especially teachers using it for a long history to adapt to the new technology?

3)      Since technology is updated very frequently, is it necessary for teachers to be trained about using technology regularly?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Today I learned what is Web Quest and a little bit about how to use dedication. I think Web Quest is quite interesting and help for students. It can stimulate their desire for learning. Teachers should try to design it and make it valuable for students.

Chapter 5

Chapter 5 explores how teachers and students can critically research and evaluate the Internet as a teaching and learning environment. It emphasizes that information literacy should be a significant learning goal for students. To Millennials, most of us have kind of Information literacy, but haven’t been trained academically. We learn how to browse, and how to use communication tools by ourselves. Media have a powerful attraction to adolescents or even adults that they desire to learn how to use them. But such kind of learning is one-sided. Just like the research mentioned on page 116 that students, even college students still lack of media literacy skills. I think to educate students to use media is an urgent topic for teachers. Students need not only media skills but also a proper attitude to media. Most of us use media for entertainment, but lack of necessary techniques for learning. When I was a child, the first thing I learned from computer was computer game. Although in elementary and middle school, I was taught basic academic computer skills which were very simple, what I was taught was not proper designed and was out of date. If as the book says “developing information and media literacy skills begins in the grades and continues through college”, schools ought to make a more effective curriculum plan.

I believe that “to share” is the spirit of Internet. During Internet age, information is not controlled by elites, it is shared and posted online. Ideas have been interchanged. But the freedom of sharing information also provide a chance for spreading misinformation. It seems so difficult to identify the “correct” information. Even though so called “experts” will make mistakes due to the tricks. Recently, a very authoritative television channel made a huge mistake in a documentary program that it used some information from a website which functioned like Wikipedia but was totally incorrect. It remains me that when facing up to so much information, the ability to evaluate, analyze and identify should be trained.

Questions:

1)    Ch 5 encourages students to take electronic notes. Of course it is useful, but compared to the traditional one, students are easier to lose attention. For example, when networks are available, how to avoid students from checking emails, or responding to other Internet users through social apps?

2)    If computers or other technologies are widely used in schools, will it cause a heavy burden for the low-income families? Since electronic products update so frequently, will students feel uncomfortable when compared to others using latest ones?

3)    Is it necessary to build specific standards to examine whether students have reached the requirements of information literacy?