Blog #8: Video Posting

#7: Half-Way Reflection

So far, I have had a busy semester and have been somewhat overwhelmed (and it is not just this class). I guess I never really realized the amount of technology that can be used in the early elementary classrooms! I think that using computers is a good idea; it gets students acquainted with the technology so that they can use it in their future years. My favorite concept so far is working with Excel. I love using it and it still amazes me that a computer program can do what this program does (equations can be dragged down a column instead of copied and pasted!). Other than Excel, I think that learning to use a program that can create videos is good. As much as I despised putting that video together (I like using the MovieMaker program much more than I liked iMovie), I think that I may find that experience beneficial when I become a teacher. Even though I do not think that I will use that program as a teacher now, I may in the future.

#6: Internet use in Elementary Classroom

I think that the internet is not a necessity when working with children in the early education classroom. Children, at this age, are not doing web searches to find information to work on a report, so the internet is there for games and interaction. I have witnessed the use of the internet in a first grade classroom, however. The teacher had them working on their math facts while using a website that provided math related games. This allowed the teacher to have an interactive game for the students without having to purchase a product.

While the internet is a great place for free material, it does have its downfalls. The internet sometimes has periods in which it does not function properly; the webpage is down, cables are disconnected, or the internet is just not working. Along with the internet, comes safety. When children are working on the internet, teachers must make sure that the sites that they are visiting are safe and secure so that the students are not able to find things that are not related to the topic. If I were to have students working on the internet, I would make sure that the site was safe and provided what I wanted the students to see before I let them take control of the mouse.

The internet is a wonderful place to find great educational games and lessons. One of my favorite sites to use is Discovery Learning. This site provides links to other educational sites, free clip art, an abundance of lesson plans for every subject, and, my favorite, an online puzzle maker. This site also provides, what they call, “brain boosters,” which are little quizzes that help work on categorization, logic, lateral reason, and spatial awareness. I know I have fun with the quizzes, so I am sure that the students will as well!