post reflecting on class so far

In this post, I am considering the design of the classroom that I drew yesterday in class. I feel that I focused more on classroom management than on technology. I decided to put the students' desk in the shape of a V with a large rolling chair in the middle. I had a overhead, smart board in the front of the class, a mini computer center in the back corner and in another back corner I had the "publishing room" where the technological tools for "publishing" the students' periodicals and projects will be. If, that is, I have to resources to provide that for the students. It could simply be a copier printer and a staple.

I know that this class, being aptly titled, Education and technology in the classroom, will be a bit bias towards putting technology as the center focus in the classroom; thus encouraging teachers to use every kind of updated media possible. However, I am going to pick and chose.

I am not interested in congesting the focus of the classroom with technology especially if I have to strain my mental faculties trying to figure out how it could apply to my classroom. I desire technology to be complimentary to the learning.

As a future English teacher, I aim to focus on how technology can help my students in that area of expertise. I am particularly focused on the subcategories of English, namely literature, vocabulary, grammar, and writing.

For the literature aspect I think I would like to have a program where students can read ebooks where they can practice writing in the text, highlighting key points, noting problematic passages or themes, and noting vocabulary words and sentence style. I am still going to be using books but since most books are not kept by the students, this ebook idea might allow them to really interact with the text and could be another source in case they forget their book at school.

For vocabulary, I was thinking of using the transparencies for the kids to make concept maps for chosen vocab words as a part of their vocab and spelling assessment. Each would do a thorough job on one and present it to the class. Afterwards they would take a simple multiple choice test either using the bubble sheets that are graded by a machine or worked online. (I would want a program that saves their answers so I could view them and make sure the machine did not make any mistakes). After that, I think a program that allows them to practice spelling techniques rather than a workbook might be a nice way to save paper but I don't want that to take up all my time. I also will demand that they take off the spell check on some of their papers so they can learn to check spelling for themselves.

For grammar, I would probably use a smart board and overhead, (as I probably would for most lecture sections) to talk about the parts of speech, again allowing students to make transparencies where they examine a sentence for part of speech, style, syntax, diction etc. I might even assign practice problems through a website that they would have to copy their results and send to me. (Or I could be the teacher connected with the program.)I would also have a large dry erase board and perhaps a small one for each students. I know that dry erase boards aren't really technology but they are fun to use. And allow students to write and erase their answers without using paper and allows me to see their progress.

Finally for the writing section of the course, I would definitely use technology. I would want my students to write their papers on the computer. I would try to use the tract changes to grade the papers, though their might be times where I would ask them to print out their papers to bring to class. I would still do a great deal of writing in class where they have to do writing on paper in preparation of the SAT and AP test and because thinking in this medium is good for students. I would also use a microphone to give verbal feedback. It's really an easy program on my computer but it's a great way to get students to listen and feel individual attention is given to their papers. I might assign my students to listen to podcast of literary importance or online radio programs. I also would want to work with my students on different ways to plan creative or larger essay writing. One way is to talk the ideas out. I might have one assignment where the students are required to record themselves either by tape or CD or through a podcast, talking about their ideas and questions about their paper. ( I would provide guidelines for them, questions and points they'd need to address). I also might show them the program where they can talk through a microphone and the computer writes down the words. Sometimes that can be helpful if a blank paper causes a mental blank.

I am also going to be encouraging my students to read and write articles for journals, magazines, newspapers and other written media. I might have them create a creative blog but what I really want to do is to have a literary magazine and newspaper that is produced by the class at large and printed and distributed to their classmates. I think it serves many purposes. First, students can feel a sense of pride and accomplishment when they get their papers in, doing homework assignments will have more relevance to their lives, they will see the practical application of the things they learn in class and it will encourage them, hopefully, to read literary media on their own.

I know that was a long blog for our first assignment, but I'm really getting inspiration and ideas. Please comment and I applaud you for reading such a long passage.;)

My first post

This is the first post of my new MAC blog.
fun stuff.