I am pleased with the creation of my lesson plan, "Health Food for the Brain and Fun Activity for the Body", to an existent". Considering, I am majoring in All-Level Health, there was a high level of difficulty incorporating the following TEKS into one lesson: Health, Physical Education and Technology TEKS. In addition, the presence of this high-level difficulty positively encouraged a fun sense of enhanced creativeness . Furthermore, my lesson plan consist of a two-part lesson taken place in both the classroom and gymnasium, mainly geared towards a 4th grade physical education class.

In conclusion, I am really pleased with my lesson plan, but flaws still exist. Firstly, I am not pleased with my lack of confidence in making my personal created power point and matching excel worksheet easily available. Importantly, my lesson material needs to be accessible on each of my student's computers; still unclear of my presentation method for this part of my lesson. Secondly, I did not incorporate activities based on naturalist intelligence; I would like to still include this in my lesson plan for further use. Lastly, I am disappointed in the amount of Technology TEKS that i provided for my lesson plan because I feel like the lesson unknowingly could represent and include more. It was difficult to including more technology TEKS due to my trouble in making connections between my lesson plan and Technology TEKS: connections that are present. Besides these small obstacle, I feel I created a deceit well-rounded lesson plan that will increase my students' knowledge; while at the same time have FUN.


ETEC 424 was a very interesting, fun and informative technology class. Although the semester involved a lot of projects/busy work, I enjoyed it a lot. Honestly, some of the different types of technology integration that was introduced during the semester, i either had little knowledge/experience about or had no knowledge/experience about. For example, before taking ETEC 424, I had been informed of blogging to a small degree, but had never created nor knew were to begin in creating a blog. On the other hand, the software Inspiration was all new to me; foreign to me prior to this class. Furthermore, the only critique I have concerning the class involves extended availability to access/complete homework sooner; providing opportunity to get ahead in the numerous assignments presented during the semester.

Integrating Technology in the Classroom

I believe that educators should be very careful in matching the technology used in instruction with the technology used by the students. Yes, integrating the two is a good idea and could be a successful learning tool. On the other hand, it should not be taking to far. Certain types of technology that students use should not be used carelessly. The following types of technology can overshadow the importance of face-to-face interaction: online discussion boards, chat blogs and instant messaging. All these types of technologies are used by students to communicate in everyday situations but they each should be used sparingly in the classroom. They all have advantages as a classroom tool but when used too much create altering disadvantages.

Online chats and instant messaging are of value in the classroom. They allow opportunity for students and teachers to communicate with other countries and widen knowledge of different types of cultural ideas. Also, they are convenient in allowing communication with people of distance. Furthermore, they allow students to learn now to express their ideas in writing. In addition although they add to student learning, if used carelessly can take away from "real" instruction. I think that online chat and text messaging should both be used coherently as communication tools in the classroom. This would eliminate the possibility of taking away from "real" instruction, which involves the importance of face-to-face communication skills.

There are benefits to asynchronous, text-based communication over synchronous and face-to-face communication. One possible benefit from asynchronous communication is the advantage of having more time to collaborate ones' ideas; this type of communication is not in real time. Students are able to gather their ideas before they make a response. For example, in face-to-face setting, a conversation topic may change several times before one has actual decided on a response to the first topic. Furthermore, one benefit of text-based communication over synchronous is it teaches students how to communicate ideas through writing. This type of communication is more like face-to-face communication because individuals have to communicate back their ideas in a timed fashion. In addition, it has a advantage of communicating ideas instantly across distance between individuals; connecting students' ideas everywhere. Lastly, there are definitely benefits to face-to-face communication. Face-to-face communication teach individuals how to communicate ideas in a fast manner. Also, in person communication is important because individuals must develop these types of communication skills to effectively communicate their ideas and express themselves in real life. Otherwise, one may go throughout society being totally misunderstood.

I believe that pod cast enhances the learning of students because of the preparation involved in creating an actual pod cast. Students develop the following knowledge from creating pod casts: "how to sequence material, finding or creating copyright-free music or the audio to transition between segments, practicing public speaking, and locating additional resources to extend the value of the pod cast" (Meaningful Learning with Technology, p.161).

In my opinion and research shows, video gaming can help develop ones studying. The process involved in creating games allow students to learn how to construct content in the manner that their audience understands the content. This could be an example of peer tutoring. In addition, students become subject matter experts. Students also learn how to integrate content across the curriculum; allowing opportunity to learn knowledge from combinations of different classroom subjects. The following are benefits in gaming: advancements in mathematical skills, improve self esteem/confidence, advancement toward computer science career, etc. I agree with the article in aspects that there are possible benefits from video gaming but I do not think this new idea is the best solution in achieving the desired benefits possible. Although all these benefits may occur from video gaming, I would definitely not allow my child to play video game everyday because this takes away the importance of my child being physically active.

Personality Type

My personality type was INFJ. I scored the following percentages on the personality test: 33 introverted, 25 intuitive, 25 feeling, and 11 judging. My scores considered me as a protector. I am considered as having a strong desire to contribute to the well being of individuals. My personality is considered to be very rare.

I think that different personalities have different learning styles. I think that my students should take the personality test because it is important that I know a little about the personalities that exist in my classroom. This would be important in the preparation of my lecture. I would be able to add diversity in my lecturing styles for each learning style. So that I do not leave any of my students behind. Each one of my students can all have a equal opportunity to learning the curriculum if each learning style is addressed.

Excel Spreadsheet

Microsoft Excel is a very handy software to use as a teacher. It makes creating a grade book and worksheet really easy and the product is very professional. When I become a teacher I will definitely use spreadsheet in creating worksheets and grade books because it eliminates time and grades can be easily calculated.

Teachers use spreadsheet to generate their grade book and to make handout worksheets for their class and to teacher different lessons to the class. One advantage of spreadsheet over a calculator is the advantage of entering different formulas into spreadsheet. Spreadsheet allows one to relate different cells to different formulas. For example, one can generate the grades of the whole class from one formula. A calculator already has its own generated formulas and its time consuming when calculating individual grades.

I agree that the three primary functions of spreadsheets are the following: storing, calculating, and presenting information. In relation to storing, it is a primary tool for storing information for anything. In relation to calculating, it is the best tool in calculating numbers and receiving calculations from entered formulas. Lastly, it allows one to generate all types of graphs and etc. from the information entered. Another function that spreadsheet allows is the ability to relate information.

Inspiration Quick Tour

The Inspiration Quick Tour video was very interesting and educating. I was really impressed with how easy making diagrams, outlines and power point presentations could be with this type of program. This program makes the prewriting process easier and fun. I would use Inspiration in my classroom for prewriting of projects and power point presentations. This would make writing and creating power points more interesting for my students. The thing I like most about Inspiration is how the program can automatically transform ones’ diagram into an outline or power point presentation. I think the inspiration program was a very good creation and this program could be a very helpful tool in writing.

The use of technology in the classroom can come in handy with the prewriting process. The prewriting process includes the creation of outlines, diagrams, maps and etc. Technology can make the following activities easier, faster, and more fun for students: brainstorming ideas, structuring the flow of their writing, generating text to be used in their writing product, editing text, and negotiating meaning of any of these tasks. Considering teaching time is limited in the classroom, students can help by participating in peer reviewing and reciprocal peer assessment. The SWoRD system can also be helpful in this process for student during their peer reviewing. The SWoRD system helps students effectively peer review eliminating potential of student bias and increase validity. Furthermore, this system eliminates the problem of creating multiple documents because it easily creates multiple copies of revision.

I remember last semester presenting a lesson plan to one of my classes. I had to teach the lesson plan just as I would in a regular class setting. After presenting the lesson plan I gained more knowledge of my subject about the six major nutrients. Before I taught the subject I had knowledge of my subject but it wasn’t very elaborate.

Why Blogs

I personally think that the use of blogs is very important in terms of communication on a wide bases. Also, blogs increase the knowledge of the individuals whom use them. The use of blogs in education is a great source of learning for students. Teachers can use blogging in classrooms to better benefit students whom would like to participate in class discussions but are shy and afraid to do so. Also, blogs can be used in the classroom to elaborate on the subject or lesson for the day. Furthermore, student to student blogging can help students communicate with one another in better understanding the curriculum. The use of blogs in the classroom are not a waste of time, and the above examples of how blogging can be used in education backs up my opinion.

Charlot

Intro:To Me

Hi,
My Name is Charlot Harper. I am currently a student at Texas A&M at Commerce and my major is All Level Health. I plan to graduate in May 2011. I would like to be a Physical Education teacher for fourth grade or a health teacher/coach at the high school level. My family consists of several children, I love kids. I currently live with my companion and our 3 year old daughter. My immediate family consists of two older brothers and my father. My mother died when I was very young. I have five biological nieces. But I also claim non-biological nieces and nephews which include five boys and five girls. The kids in my life are most important and they are my meaning of life.