Assistive technology is a must.

The video on Edutopia was very interesting. The technology that we have today is geared to our advancement. As for me I am aware of that technology allows the impossible to be possible, but watching the video inspires me as a future teacher to incorporate more media devices into my lesson plans. One thing I would like to mention about technology while growing up was that it was limited. In my elementary school I was fortunate enough to be in a computer room. My classmates and I would have fun playing those educational computer programs. The experience was very good because it motivated me to be more interested in the subjects that were on the computer.
Going back to the video, the use of assistive technology is for the benefit for the handicapped. The video was very informative and inspiring in a way to apply such technology in the classroom. Often from what I have observed while going to school was the handicapped kids would sit out during most of the lesson. They would be non participants in the classroom and sometimes you would wonder what could be done to include these challenged kids. After watching the video I see more of the value of technology in classrooms. Clearly technology has its advantages and using them in the classroom should be one taken into consideration.
Yet there are a few set backs to having such technologies in the schools of Guam. I don’t mean to shut it out but facing the reality that the island has on education it puts the learning behind for students who need such devices. But with the video is overall inspiring for a teacher and a teacher will do anything in his or her capability to use the available technology to promote growth and learning to the students.

contemplating on a lesson plan

for my audio visual class we have to come up with a lesson plan on our own. our professor gave us the advice as to focus on the content of the subject before incorporating the use of the media devices. i thought for a while and i've narrowed my options to the civil war. when i thought of the civil war, i thought of relating it to a previous class that i had taken in college that tackled an aspect of the civil war by splitting the important groups during the civil war. i thought of borrowing the same idea with how to introduce all the aspects during that time period of america. i thought of splitting the class into groups in which i will assign a particular group an aspect in which they will have to research and present. the presentation of information could be made into a video presentation in which they will use a video recording device to re-inact an important scene during the civil war. the other option would be a regular presentation using powerpoint. but on this project the students will have "sky's the limit" (if possible) to come up with how they're going to present their information. one thing that i do ask them to do is some acting.

i think that's all i have for now...

group discussion #1

Group 3 Discussion #1 Online Games

Overall we all agreed that the introducing of an online game to our students would best appropriate during the beginning of the school year as an option for the students for alternative learning. With the game that we chose it is perfect for spelling and enhancing the student’s vocabulary. We thought the game of Text Twist is appropriate for middle school and high school students. The introduction of an online game is beneficial for the students that are getting familiarized with the computer as well. We feel that it is an activity that would stimulate interest in the student to go on the computer and play something that is beneficial to their education and something that can be enjoyed as well.
The way we thought of making Text Twist as a student centered game is by giving the student who is having trouble with spelling to have the opportunity to go online and play this game. This would be offered to benefit the student who is having trouble with the lesson. We all agreed that we will have the students evaluate the game by using a rubric and have them write a reaction paper on the game.
The tool of our choice would be to utilize a networking site in which the students are able to post up their reaction paper through their blogs. We thought that Myspace.com would be a perfect place to do so because most if not all the students already have an account. Then we will start a forum in which other classes from different periods will discuss the game. Our tools of course require a computer with internet access. With this utilization of these tools we are also educating them with the technology of our time.

discussion#1