#2- Microsoft Word, Twitter and Copyright

I have used Microsoft word multiple times as a student. Mostly when I am writing a paper and am required to write in MLA or APA format. I have also used Microsoft Word multiple times when I am taking notes on my computer in class. I always use the "Word Notebook Layout" to take all my notes in for class! It's really helpful because of how the layout is, it makes it really easy to find all of my notes. I have also seen my teachers use it quite often while in the classroom. They use it to present our notes, when they give us instructions on assignments, and also for our syllabus. Usually when a teacher needs to relay typed information to students, it is through a Microsoft Word document.

I haven't really had that many experiences with copyright and fair use materials. The only time I've ever really had to worry about it is when I am writing a paper and need to cite certain things. However, I know that when I become a teacher those things will become way more relevant and I will need to know all the rules about it. I know I will need to use it when it comes to giving print out's and worksheets to the class for the assignments and classroom activities. 

I had always used Twitter for my own personal thoughts and basically for fun. I had never really realized the personal learning networks that it had. Seriously it's amazing!!! The educators accounts you can follow and learn from are basically endless. Twitter is much more than a "social media" output it is something you can learn and grow from as a teacher. Twitter will help me in my future career because I can learn from other teachers and it can help me in my own classroom. I now view Twitter as a totally different form of community and a learning opportunity.

#1- Computers in the Classroom

There are plenty of ways that technology has enhanced the classroom experience. Teachers can use computers to come up with their lesson plans and instruction design. By doing these two things online you can broaden your horizons and you are basically limitless. As for the students learning, technology can also help you learn. Technology can foster creativity in students, it can assess competency and it can also foster communication and collaboration. I definitely agree that technology can help the teaching and also the learning process if used correctly. The internet can do incredible things if you know the correct strategies to help the learning process.

One standard that gladdens my heart is under the ISTE standards for teachers. It's actually the first one, Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity. I love this standard because you are allowing students to be kids and allowing them to follow their creative instinct and be interested in things. The technology allows them to learn all about what they are curious in, and I love it. You're allowing students to be creative, all while helping them do it. One ISTE standard that seems a little outside your current skill set is number 3, to Model digital age work and learning. It seems a little outside my skill set because I know the basics about computers but not enough to teach others about it. I wouldn't feel comfortable to use all the different ways of technology to communicate with parents or anything else. I'd need some more knowledge about it, but I'm open to learn!

I do agree with the term "Digital Native" to describe our youth. Being a digital native means that you need technology to learn, unlike the traditional ways that we used to learn. Being a student, I can definitely see the difference between the digital native and the digital immigrants. Some of my older professors don't know how to get powerpoint on their projector or know how to turn on the volume when they play videos in class. Something that if you were to ask a digital native how to do, they could probably figure it out in less than 5 minutes. It does impact the learning experience on students because their attention starts veering towards other things when it takes awhile for our professor to get the technology to start working. I am anticipating that when I'm a teacher I might be current on the technology, but my students will always be ahead of me. Technology will continue to grow and students will always be ahead of their teachers!

0- My first attempt at blogging

My prior experiences using technology wouldn't include all that much. For starters my major phone of technology that I've mastered is my phone, and iPhone. I understand that pretty much to a T, but it usually doesn't help me educationally. On the other hand I have my Macbook, which I don't really know all that much about. I understand the basics, but that is where my expertise ends. I can do basic things in Word, and make a very basic Powerpoint but nothing more than that. I've never really had to do it. Also I haven't used a Dell computer in quite some time, so having two different computers to learn on is also challenging.

I hope to gain a lot of new knowledge from taking this course. I hope it will teach me about little tips and tricks to softwares that I will need to familiarize myself with. I would like to learn more about Word, Powerpoint, Excel and also how to use special technology required in the classrooms that I will hopefully be teaching in one day. Such as, a Smart board, the Doc camera and also how to make your computer screen have one thing on it while the projector shows a different display to your classroom. I hope this class will make it easier for me to keep up with the growing need for technology in my daily life and also in the classroom.

While taking the quiz I learned a little bit more about my personal learning style. I received a 7 in the first category, which is on the ACT side. ACT stands for active learners, since I fell on a 7 that means I have a moderate preference for that dimension. Some helpful tips the website gave me were to stop periodically and review what I've read, work with others, and I'll retain information better if I find ways to do something with it. The next category I fell on a 1, leaning towards the side of SEN. SEN stands for sensing learner, and since I fell on a 1 I'm fairy well balanced for this dimension. Some facts the website gave for sensing learners were that we like to learn facts, we tend to be patient with detail, and we tend to be more practical. Some ways to help myself as a sensing learner we can ask our teacher for specific examples, and find out how concepts apply in practice. The third category was VIS and I scored a 9 in this category. VIS stands for visual learner and a 9 means that I have a very strong preference for that dimension. It said visual learners remember what they see best such as pictures, maps, etc. The website did say some ways that I could help myself as a visual learner are to find visuals to help myself learn, and also color code my notes to make it stand out. Lastly, I fell under GLO with a number 1. GLO stands for global learner and since I only made a 1 I well balanced for this dimension. Global learners need to see the bigger picture of something before I can master the details. It's hint was to skim the whole chapter before reading the whole thing so I could get a sense of what I was about to read about to help myself grasp the bigger picture.